Summary & Overview
CPT 0072T: MRgFUS Thermal Ablation of Uterine Fibroids ≥200 cc
CPT code 0072T identifies magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for thermal ablation of noncancerous uterine leiomyomata with a treated volume of 200 cc or greater. This code captures a minimally invasive, image-guided alternative to surgical procedures for symptomatic uterine fibroids and is significant for payers and providers as adoption of MRgFUS may affect utilization patterns, imaging resource needs, and care pathways for fibroid management.
Key payers considered in national coverage discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a clinical and coding overview of the procedure, typical sites of service, and the context needed to interpret coverage and billing interactions. The publication presents benchmarks and policy-relevant points such as payer coverage trends, utilization considerations for an MR-based procedural service, and implications for ambulatory imaging and surgical centers that host MRI-guided interventions.
This summary equips clinical leaders, billing managers, and policy analysts with the essential framing of CPT code 0072T, including what the code represents, where the procedure is typically performed, and the topics addressed in the full report (coverage patterns, coding guidance, and clinical context). Data not available in the input is noted where specific payer policies or utilization statistics would otherwise be cited.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 0072T describes a therapeutic, image-guided procedure: magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) to heat and destroy a noncancerous uterine leiomyomata (uterine fibroids) when the total treated volume is 200 cc or greater. The procedure is performed with the patient positioned inside a magnetic resonance imaging scanner that monitors temperature and guides energy delivery to the precise location of the leiomyomata.
-
Service type: Image-guided thermal ablation of uterine fibroids (MRgFUS)
-
Typical site of service: Outpatient or ambulatory imaging/surgical center with MRI capability; patient is inside an MRI scanner during the procedure.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old woman with symptomatic uterine leiomyomata presents with heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, and bulk symptoms refractory to medical management. Pelvic MRI demonstrates multiple fibroids with one dominant intramural/submucosal fibroid and a combined uterine leiomyomata volume of 200 cc or greater. After multidisciplinary evaluation by an interventional radiologist or gynecologic surgeon and pre-procedure MRI planning, the patient is scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) in an outpatient MR suite. The patient arrives fasting, undergoes pre-procedure consent and safety screening for MRI (implants, claustrophobia), IV access, and baseline vitals. During the procedure the patient lies supine inside the MRI scanner while the team uses real-time MR thermography to target and thermally ablate fibroid tissue. Sedation or conscious sedation is provided per facility protocol and anesthesia support may be present for monitored anesthesia care. Post-procedure MRI sequences confirm non-perfused volume within the treated fibroid(s). The patient is observed in recovery for hemodynamic stability and pain control, receives discharge instructions, and outpatient follow-up is arranged for symptom assessment and interval imaging.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier (default) | Use when no special circumstances apply. |