Coping with Coding has been developed to provide you with educational articles focusing on common coding questions and issues facing many Urologists. 

Tip for Performing a Partial or Heminephrectomy
by Michael A. Ferragamo MD, FACS

When performing a partial or heminephrectomy and total removal of what often is an ectopic duplicated ureter, one is confronted with a proper and accurate coding dilemma. I would suggest the following coding scenario:

50240 for the partial nephrectomy or heminephrectomy, and
50660-51 for the total excision of the ectopic ureter.

I would suggest the following ICD-9 (diagnostic) codes.... 753.3 for the double collecting system and 753.4 for the ectopic ureter.

Michael A. Ferragamo MD is a practicing urologist and is the editor of Urology Coding Alert, a monthly newsletter on urology coding published by The Coding Institute of Naples, Florida. He is a nationally known coding expert in urology and would be happy to help with any coding problems you may have. He may be reached at the following numbers... 516-741-0118, 516-746-5550, 516-721-8149, fax 516-294-4736, or E-Mail Liqgold2@aol.com.