Summary & Overview
CPT 50390: Renal Cyst Aspiration with Sclerotherapy
CPT code 50390 denotes percutaneous aspiration or drainage of a renal cyst, often combined with injection of a sclerotic agent such as acetic acid or ethanol. This minimally invasive procedure addresses symptomatic renal cysts that cause abdominal pain, recurrent urinary symptoms, or hematuria. Nationally, the code is relevant for ambulatory surgical care, interventional radiology workflows, and outpatient cost and utilization monitoring for benign renal cyst management.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical intent and sites of service, typical payer coverage considerations, and the operational context for billing and reporting. The publication provides benchmarks for utilization and allowed services where available, notes common billing modifiers, and outlines clinical context for use of sclerotherapy agents in cyst aspiration.
This summary is intended for health plan analysts, practice managers, and clinical billing staff seeking a national perspective on coding, clinical application, and payer relevance for CPT code 50390. Data not available in the input is explicitly identified in the detailed sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 50390 describes aspiration or drainage of a renal cyst, including injection of a sclerotic agent such as acetic acid or ethanol into the cyst. The procedure is performed when a renal cyst causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, recurrent urinary urgency, or hematuria.
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Service type: Percutaneous renal cyst aspiration with possible sclerotherapy
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Typical site of service: Outpatient procedure setting or ambulatory surgery center; may also be performed in an interventional radiology suite
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 55-year-old adult presenting with intermittent flank pain, urinary frequency, or visible hematuria. Imaging (renal ultrasound or CT) demonstrates a simple or symptomatic renal cyst causing discomfort or recurrent symptoms. The urologist or interventional radiologist schedules a percutaneous renal cyst aspiration with possible sclerotherapy. The procedure is performed under ultrasound or CT guidance in an outpatient procedure suite, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital radiology/interventional suite. After informed consent and local anesthesia with or without conscious sedation, the provider advances a needle into the cyst, aspirates fluid for diagnostic analysis, evacuates cyst contents, and often injects a sclerosing agent (for example, ethanol) to reduce recurrence. Post-procedure monitoring occurs for vital signs, bleeding, or pain; discharge instructions address activity restrictions and signs of complication. Documentation includes indication, imaging guidance used, amount and character of aspirated fluid, agent instilled (if any), sedation and anesthesia details, laterality, and any specimens sent for pathology or culture.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Physician or other qualified health care professional service | Use for the initial encounter when reporting the primary service by the provider who performed the procedure |