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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesEndoscopy Procedures on the KidneyCPT cpt-50572-endoscopic-examination-kidney-renal-pelvis-ureter
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    CPT 50572: Nephrostomy Endoscope Examination of Kidney and Renal Pelvis

    Medicare pays $471 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 50572 describes insertion of an endoscope through a surgically created opening between the kidney collecting system or renal pelvis and the exterior of the body to examine the kidney, renal pelvis, and ureter; service type: percutaneous/endoscopic diagnostic procedure of the renal collecting system; typical site of service: inpatient or outpatient surgical suite, interventional radiology, or procedure room where percutaneous renal access and endoscopic examination are performed.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysis, Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family Plans, Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage Criteria.

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    Table of contents

    Progress1 / 7

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient with recurrent flank pain and imaging-confirmed hydronephrosis presents for creation of a percutaneous nephrostomy tract and diagnostic endoscopic evaluation of the collecting system. The interventional urologist obtains informed consent, places the patient prone in the angiography suite or interventional radiology suite, and uses fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance to create an external conduit from skin to renal pelvis. After establishing the nephrostomy tract and appropriate dilation, the provider inserts an endoscope through the tract to directly visualize the kidney, renal pelvis, and proximal ureter to evaluate for obstruction, stones, strictures, or tumor. Biopsy, stone extraction, or placement of internal drainage devices may occur during the same encounter depending on findings. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room/interventional radiology suite. Common clinical workflow elements include pre-procedure imaging review, conscious sedation or general anesthesia administered by anesthesia team, sterile percutaneous access, tract dilation, endoscopic inspection and any adjunctive interventions, and post-procedure monitoring with nephrostomy tube management and discharge planning.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    50080Incision and drainage, perinephric abscess, percutaneousMay be performed before or during percutaneous access for infected collections requiring drainage
    50605Nephrostomy, percutaneous, diagnostic with or without injection of contrast materialOften performed as an initial percutaneous drainage or diagnostic nephrostomy prior to tract dilation and endoscopic evaluation
    50574Lithotripsy, ultrasonic or laser, percutaneous nephrolithotomy (nephrostolithotomy) with removal of calculiPerformed when stone fragmentation and removal are indicated during endoscopic access to the renal collecting system
    50590Pyelogram, retrograde, diagnosticMay be performed adjunctively to delineate collecting system anatomy when planning or during endoscopic evaluation
    52287Ureteroscopy, with removal of stone(s) by lithotripsy (ureteroscopic ultrasonic or laser)Performed when inspection extends into the ureter and stone treatment is required; can be complementary to 50572 if access allows

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    63Modifier‑63 is appended to surgical CPT codes (20000–69990) when a procedure is performed on a neonate or infant weighing ≤ 4 kg (about 8.8 lbs). The AMA/AAPC definition specifies this use and notes…- Use modifier -63 only for surgical procedures in the CPT 20000–69990 series performed on a neonate or infant who weighs ≤ 4 kg at the time of the procedure; it indicates increased complexity due to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208800000X
    208200000X
    208600000X
    133VN1401X
    229N00000X
    171WV0202X
    344600000X
    2080T0004X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    N11.1Chronic obstructive pyelonephritis
    N11.8Other chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis
    N11.9Chronic tubulo-interstitial nephritis, unspecified
    N12Tubulo-interstitial nephritis, not specified as acute or chronic
    N13.30Unspecified hydronephrosis
    N13.6Pyonephrosis
    N20.0Calculus of kidney
    N20.1Calculus of ureter
    N20.2Calculus of kidney with calculus of ureter
    N21.0Calculus in bladder

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Nephrology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Vafseo (vadadustat) for anemia in CKD on dialysisCigna2026-08-15
    Metabolic Disorders - Cysteamine (Oral) Products for Individual and Family PlansCigna2026-08-15
    Kerendia (finerenone) — Coverage CriteriaBlue Cross Blue Shield - Iowa2026-08-05
    Voyxact (sibeprenlimab-szsl) — Prior authorization / medical necessity for primary IgA nephropathyColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Oxlumo (lumasiran) and Rivfloza (nedosiran) — Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Korsuva (difelikefalin) — Medical Benefit Drug Coverage Criteria (Ohio)Colorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-08-01
    Complement Inhibitors - EmpaveliCigna2026-08-01
    Tolvaptan (Jynarque)Cigna2026-08-01
    Nephrology - Filspari (sparsentan) coverageCigna2026-08-01
    Rivfloza (nedosiran) prior authorization for PH1UnitedHealthcare2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-50551-ENDOSCOPIC-EXAMINATION-KIDNEY-RENAL-PELVIS-URETER

    CPT 50551: Endoscopic Examination of Kidney via Existing Nephrostomy

    CPT-50553-ENDOSCOPIC-EXAMINATION-KIDNEY-RENAL-PELVIS-CATHETER

    CPT 50553: Nephroscopy Through Established Percutaneous/Pyelostomy Tract

    CPT-50555-RENAL-ENDOSCOPY-PYELOSCOPIC-BIOPSY

    CPT 50555: Nephroscopy with Biopsy via Established Access

    CPT-50557-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-PROCEDURE-TISSUE-DESTRUCTION-INCISION

    CPT 50557: Percutaneous Nephroscopy With Tissue Destruction/Incision

    CPT-50561-PERCUTANEOUS-RENAL-ENDOSCOPY-STONE-FOREIGN-BODY-REMOVAL

    CPT 50561: Percutaneous Nephroscopy with Stone/Foreign Body Removal

    CPT-50562-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-TUMOR-REMOVAL

    CPT 50562: Nephroscopy With Tumor Removal

    CPT-50570-PERCUTANEOUS-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-VISUALIZATION

    CPT 50570: Nephrostomy with Endoscopic Evaluation

    CPT-50574-PERCUTANEOUS-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-EVALUATION-BIOPSY

    CPT 50574: Endoscopic Examination of Kidney with Biopsy

    CPT-50575-ANTEGRADE-ENDOPYELOTOMY-UPJ-STRICTURE

    CPT 50575: Antegrade Endopyelotomy for UPJ Stricture

    CPT-50576-ENDOSCOPIC-RENAL-PELVIS-EVALUATION-BIOPSY-ABLATION

    CPT 50576: Percutaneous Nephroscopy with Biopsy and Ablation

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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