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CPT 44370: Upper GI Endoscopy with Dilation and Stent Placement

CPT code 44370 denotes a therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy that includes dilation of a stricture and placement of an endoscopic stent to restore and maintain passage of food. This interventional procedure is a critical option for managing benign and malignant obstructive lesions of the upper digestive tract and has implications for patient symptom relief, nutritional status, and care setting selection. Nationally, CPT code 44370 is relevant across hospital outpatient departments and freestanding endoscopy centers where endoscopic and fluoroscopic resources exist.

Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context for when this procedure is used, typical sites of service, and the procedural scope represented by the code. The publication outlines benchmarking and reimbursement context, common claim considerations, and policy or coverage themes that affect utilization of this therapeutic endoscopy nationally. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 44370 describes an endoscopic procedure in which the provider examines the upper digestive tract (excluding the ileum), dilates a stricture or narrowing, and places a stent through the endoscope to maintain lumen patency for passage of food.

Service type: Therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with dilation and stent placement
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or endoscopy center with endoscopic and fluoroscopic capability

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CPT 44370: Upper GI Endoscopy with Dilation and Stent Placement

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Therapeutic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with dilation and stent placement
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or endoscopy center with endoscopic and fluoroscopic capability

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old patient with progressive dysphagia and weight loss presents for endoscopic evaluation. Prior imaging and endoscopy identified an esophageal stricture from malignant or benign etiologies limiting oral intake. The gastroenterologist performs upper endoscopy with dilation of the stricture and transendoscopic placement of an esophageal stent to re-establish luminal patency and allow passage of food. The procedure is performed in an endoscopy suite or operating room under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia. The workflow includes pre-procedure consent and history, anesthesia induction, endoscopic inspection of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum), targeted dilation of the narrowed segment, deployment of an esophageal stent through the endoscope, confirmation of stent position and expansion, recovery monitoring, and post-procedure instructions with plan for follow-up imaging or endoscopic reassessment as clinically indicated.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier (standard)	Used when no additional modifier applies; report the service without modifier.
`11`	Principal physician of record	When the reporting clinician is the primary physician directing the case.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work or complexity substantially exceeds typical expectations for the procedure.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When medically necessary and documented unusual anesthesia is required.
`26`	Professional component	When only the physician professional component is reported separate from technical component.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but discontinued for reasons that do not meet abandonment/complication criteria.
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons; documented and warranted.
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during postoperative period	For unplanned return to the operating room for a related procedure during the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When a surgical assistant performs part of the procedure; documentation required.
`82`	Unpaid assistant surgeon	When an assistant surgeon participates but does not receive compensation from the payor.
`73`	Discontinued outpatient prior to anesthesia	If outpatient procedure cancelled after patient taken to procedure area but before anesthesia or sedation.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Rarely applicable; use only if bilateral anatomic procedures are legitimately reported.
`51`	Multiple procedures	When multiple CPT procedures are performed during same session; list with appropriate sequencing.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RP1000X`	Gastroenterology	Gastroenterologists commonly perform diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy with dilation and stent placement.
`207RR0500X`	Surgical Critical Care / Acute Care Surgery	Acute care or thoracic surgeons may place stents in complex malignant upper-GI obstructions.
`2080P0227X`	General Surgery	General surgeons with endoscopic skills perform esophageal stent placement in operative settings.
`207RN0400X`	Advanced Interventional Gastroenterology	Subspecialists performing advanced therapeutic endoscopy, including stent deployment.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C15.9`	Malignant neoplasm of esophagus, unspecified	Esophageal cancer causing obstructive stricture requiring dilation and stent placement.
`K22.2`	Esophageal obstruction	Direct indication for endoscopic dilation and stent placement to relieve obstruction.
`K22.7`	Diverticulum of esophagus	Structural abnormalities that may cause symptomatic narrowing and require endoscopic management.
`K22.8`	Other specified diseases of esophagus	Includes strictures from radiation, caustic injury, or other causes leading to stent placement.
`K21.9`	Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis	Chronic reflux can lead to peptic strictures; may require dilation and stenting in refractory cases.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`43235`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with biopsy, single or multiple	Often performed prior to stent placement for diagnostic evaluation and tissue sampling.
`43239`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with dilation of esophagus over guidewire with balloon or bougie	Dilation may be performed alone or prior to stent placement; similar therapeutic intent.
`43269`	Endoscopic placement of esophageal stent (includes pre- and post-dilation when performed)	Alternative or closely related code specific to esophageal stent procedures; may overlap—select the code that best describes the service.
`43255`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with endoscopic placement of enteral stent (e.g., duodenal)	Used when stenting is performed more distally in the upper GI tract (duodenum); relevant in workflow when obstruction location varies.
`47562`	Laparoscopy, surgical, gastrostomy, placement of gastrostomy tube, percutaneous, endoscopic including dilation as necessary	May be performed in patients who cannot tolerate enteral stenting or require alternative feeding access.

CPT 44360: Diagnostic Upper Small Bowel Endoscopy with Brushing

CPT-44361-ENDOSCOPY-PROXIMAL-SMALL-INTESTINE-BIOPSY

CPT 44361: Endoscopic Examination of Proximal Small Intestine with Biopsy

CPT-44363-ENDOSCOPIC-JEJUNAL-INTUBATION-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 44363: Endoscopic Examination and Foreign-Body Removal, Proximal Small Intestine

CPT-44364-SMALL-BOWEL-ENDOSCOPY-SNARE-POLYPECTOMY

CPT 44364: Small-Bowel Endoscopy with Snare Lesion Removal

CPT-44365-SMALL-INTESTINE-ENDOSCOPY-LESION-REMOVAL

CPT 44365: Small Intestine Endoscopy with Lesion Removal

CPT-44366-UPPER-SMALL-BOWEL-ENDOSCOPY-HEMOSTASIS

CPT 44366: Upper Small Bowel Endoscopy with Hemostasis

CPT-44369-ENDOSCOPIC-LASER-RADIOFREQUENCY-ABLATION-SMALL-BOWEL

CPT 44369: Endoscopic Laser/Radiofrequency Ablation of Upper Small Bowel Lesions

CPT-44372-ENDOSCOPIC-JEJUNAL-FEEDING-TUBE-PLACEMENT

CPT 44372: Endoscopic Jejunostomy Tube Placement for Enteral Nutrition

CPT-44373-GASTROSTOMY-TO-JEJUNOSTOMY-CONVERSION-ENDOSCOPIC

CPT 44373: Endoscopic Conversion of Gastrostomy to Jejunostomy

CPT-44376-DIAGNOSTIC-UPPER-ENDOSCOPY-BRUSHING-LAVAGE

CPT 44376: Diagnostic Upper GI Endoscopy with Brushing or Lavage

Showing 1–10 of 13

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`00`	No modifier (standard)	Used when no additional modifier applies; report the service without modifier.
`11`	Principal physician of record	When the reporting clinician is the primary physician directing the case.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work or complexity substantially exceeds typical expectations for the procedure.
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	When medically necessary and documented unusual anesthesia is required.
`26`	Professional component	When only the physician professional component is reported separate from technical component.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but discontinued for reasons that do not meet abandonment/complication criteria.
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons; documented and warranted.
`78`	Return to OR for related procedure during postoperative period	For unplanned return to the operating room for a related procedure during the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	When a surgical assistant performs part of the procedure; documentation required.
`82`	Unpaid assistant surgeon	When an assistant surgeon participates but does not receive compensation from the payor.
`73`	Discontinued outpatient prior to anesthesia	If outpatient procedure cancelled after patient taken to procedure area but before anesthesia or sedation.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Rarely applicable; use only if bilateral anatomic procedures are legitimately reported.
`51`	Multiple procedures	When multiple CPT procedures are performed during same session; list with appropriate sequencing.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207RP1000X`	Gastroenterology	Gastroenterologists commonly perform diagnostic and therapeutic upper endoscopy with dilation and stent placement.
`207RR0500X`	Surgical Critical Care / Acute Care Surgery	Acute care or thoracic surgeons may place stents in complex malignant upper-GI obstructions.
`2080P0227X`	General Surgery	General surgeons with endoscopic skills perform esophageal stent placement in operative settings.
`207RN0400X`	Advanced Interventional Gastroenterology	Subspecialists performing advanced therapeutic endoscopy, including stent deployment.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C15.9`	Malignant neoplasm of esophagus, unspecified	Esophageal cancer causing obstructive stricture requiring dilation and stent placement.
`K22.2`	Esophageal obstruction	Direct indication for endoscopic dilation and stent placement to relieve obstruction.
`K22.7`	Diverticulum of esophagus	Structural abnormalities that may cause symptomatic narrowing and require endoscopic management.
`K22.8`	Other specified diseases of esophagus	Includes strictures from radiation, caustic injury, or other causes leading to stent placement.
`K21.9`	Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis	Chronic reflux can lead to peptic strictures; may require dilation and stenting in refractory cases.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`43235`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with biopsy, single or multiple	Often performed prior to stent placement for diagnostic evaluation and tissue sampling.
`43239`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with dilation of esophagus over guidewire with balloon or bougie	Dilation may be performed alone or prior to stent placement; similar therapeutic intent.
`43269`	Endoscopic placement of esophageal stent (includes pre- and post-dilation when performed)	Alternative or closely related code specific to esophageal stent procedures; may overlap—select the code that best describes the service.
`43255`	Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with endoscopic placement of enteral stent (e.g., duodenal)	Used when stenting is performed more distally in the upper GI tract (duodenum); relevant in workflow when obstruction location varies.
`47562`	Laparoscopy, surgical, gastrostomy, placement of gastrostomy tube, percutaneous, endoscopic including dilation as necessary	May be performed in patients who cannot tolerate enteral stenting or require alternative feeding access.

CPT 44360: Diagnostic Upper Small Bowel Endoscopy with Brushing

CPT-44361-ENDOSCOPY-PROXIMAL-SMALL-INTESTINE-BIOPSY

CPT 44361: Endoscopic Examination of Proximal Small Intestine with Biopsy

CPT-44363-ENDOSCOPIC-JEJUNAL-INTUBATION-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

CPT 44363: Endoscopic Examination and Foreign-Body Removal, Proximal Small Intestine

CPT-44364-SMALL-BOWEL-ENDOSCOPY-SNARE-POLYPECTOMY

CPT 44364: Small-Bowel Endoscopy with Snare Lesion Removal

CPT-44365-SMALL-INTESTINE-ENDOSCOPY-LESION-REMOVAL

CPT 44365: Small Intestine Endoscopy with Lesion Removal

CPT-44366-UPPER-SMALL-BOWEL-ENDOSCOPY-HEMOSTASIS

CPT 44366: Upper Small Bowel Endoscopy with Hemostasis

CPT-44369-ENDOSCOPIC-LASER-RADIOFREQUENCY-ABLATION-SMALL-BOWEL

CPT 44369: Endoscopic Laser/Radiofrequency Ablation of Upper Small Bowel Lesions

CPT-44372-ENDOSCOPIC-JEJUNAL-FEEDING-TUBE-PLACEMENT

CPT 44372: Endoscopic Jejunostomy Tube Placement for Enteral Nutrition

CPT-44373-GASTROSTOMY-TO-JEJUNOSTOMY-CONVERSION-ENDOSCOPIC

CPT 44373: Endoscopic Conversion of Gastrostomy to Jejunostomy

CPT-44376-DIAGNOSTIC-UPPER-ENDOSCOPY-BRUSHING-LAVAGE

CPT 44376: Diagnostic Upper GI Endoscopy with Brushing or Lavage

Showing 1–10 of 13

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 44370: Upper GI Endoscopy with Dilation and Stent Placement

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Billing Code Overview

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OpenPayer

CPT 44370: Upper GI Endoscopy with Dilation and Stent Placement

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 44370: Upper GI Endoscopy with Dilation and Stent Placement

Sign up for cpt 44370 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 44370: Upper GI Endoscopy with Dilation and Stent Placement

Sign up for cpt 44370 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical service does CPT 44370 describe and where is it usually performed?

Which related CPT codes might be submitted alongside or instead of 44370?

What diagnoses are commonly associated with use of CPT 44370?

Which CPT modifiers are highlighted as potentially applicable to CPT 44370?

Which payers and coverage settings are mentioned for CPT 44370?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical service does CPT 44370 describe and where is it usually performed?

Which related CPT codes might be submitted alongside or instead of 44370?

What diagnoses are commonly associated with use of CPT 44370?

Which CPT modifiers are highlighted as potentially applicable to CPT 44370?

Which payers and coverage settings are mentioned for CPT 44370?

References