AMA CPT® Assistant - 2003 Issue 6 (June)
Prostate Procedures (June 2003)
June 2003 pages 6-9 Coding Communication:Prostate Procedures The organs of the male genital system include the prostate, the seminal vesicles, the penis, and, contained in the scrotum, the testicles, epididymides, and vas deferens. Although the male genital system is comprised of many parts, the focus of this article will be the prostate. The prostate is about the size of a walnut and lies just below the urinary bladder and surrounds the upper part of the urethra. Even though the prostate serves no purpose in the urinary system, this gland normally enlarges with age and may eventually interfere with the...
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Article Overview
This article explains prostate anatomy and common prostate conditions before reviewing procedure-oriented coding guidance for prostate surgery and cancer treatment. It is aimed at coders, billers, and clinical documentation staff who need to understand how the June 2003 CPT discussion organized major prostate procedures and related operative categories. The article also covers descriptive procedure narratives and broader coding distinctions relevant to surgical approach and clinical setting.
Why This Topic Matters
Prostate procedures are common in urology and oncology, and correct code selection depends on understanding the procedure type, surgical approach, and whether the service is open, laparoscopic, or cryosurgical. This article helps readers orient themselves to the June 2003 CPT-era coding framework for these services.
Article Sections
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June 2003 pages 6-9
Introductory material on prostate anatomy and common prostate conditions, followed by the major procedure categories addressed in the article.
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Treatment of prostate cancer
A broad overview of treatment approaches for localized prostate cancer and how the article organizes the surgical options discussed later.
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Radical prostatectomy
Discussion of open radical prostatectomy coding topics, including procedure-level narrative and related open surgical variants.
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Description of Procedure: CPT code 55810
A procedural narrative for the perineal radical prostatectomy example included in the article.
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Laparoscopic Prostatectomy
Coverage of laparoscopic prostatectomy as a minimally invasive approach and its relationship to open surgery in the article's coding discussion.
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Description of Procedure: CPT Code 55866
A procedural narrative describing the laparoscopic radical prostatectomy example.
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Cryosurgical Ablation
General discussion of cryosurgical treatment as an alternative approach for prostate cancer and its coding context.
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Description of Procedure: CPT Code 55873
A procedural narrative describing the cryosurgical ablation example.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames prostate anatomy and common benign prostate conditions
- How the article organizes major prostate procedure categories
- How the article distinguishes open, laparoscopic, and cryosurgical prostate cancer treatment topics
- Which CPT-era prostate procedure subjects were emphasized in the June 2003 discussion
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Urology coding specialists
- Oncology coding staff
- Clinical documentation improvement staff
Codes Discussed
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