AMA CPT® Assistant - 2021 Issue 9 (September)
Reporting Ablation of Malignant Prostate Tissue (55880)
Reporting Ablation of Malignant Prostate Tissue (55880) For the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT ®) 2021 code set, a new Category I code (55880) was established to report transrectal ablation of the prostate using high intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU), including ultrasound guidance. This article provides an overview of the intent and use of this new code. Other Procedures ●55880 Ablation of malignant prostate tissue, transrectal, with high intensity-focused ultrasound (HIFU), including ultrasound guidance Prior to 2021, an unlisted CPT code was used to report prostate ablation for the treatment of prostate cancer using HIFU. As the code descriptor for code...
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Article Overview
This premium article covers the introduction of a new CPT Category I code for prostate tissue ablation using high intensity-focused ultrasound, along with the surrounding reporting context and a representative clinical/procedural example. It is intended for coding professionals, billers, and clinical staff who need to understand how the procedure is described in the 2021 CPT code set and how the article frames its use.
Why This Topic Matters
The article matters because it documents a new CPT reporting option for a specialized prostate cancer treatment and clarifies the procedural scope associated with the code. Readers can use it to determine whether the full article is relevant to their coding, billing, or clinical documentation workflows.
Article Sections
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Other Procedures
A brief code-focused section identifying the procedure category discussed in the article and its place within the CPT 2021 code set.
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Clinical Example (55880)
A representative patient scenario illustrating the type of case associated with the procedure discussed in the article.
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Description of Procedure (55880)
A procedural overview of the workflow and clinical setting surrounding the treatment discussed in the article.
What You Will Learn
- The general purpose of the new CPT reporting option discussed in the article
- The broader procedural context for prostate ablation using high intensity-focused ultrasound
- How the article frames the relationship between the new code and related ultrasound guidance
- What kind of clinical scenario is associated with the procedure
- How the article presents the typical procedural setting and workflow
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Billing staff
- Physician documentation specialists
- Urology practice administrators
Codes Discussed
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