Summary & Overview
CPT 50706: Image-Guided Ureteral Balloon Dilation
CPT code 50706 denotes an add-on image-guided procedure for dilation of a ureteral stricture using a balloon catheter, with radiological supervision and interpretation. The code captures the use of real-time imaging modalities — ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy — to guide safe and precise widening of a narrowed ureteral segment. Nationally, this code matters because it identifies targeted endourologic interventions that can prevent obstructive uropathy, preserve renal function, and avoid more invasive surgery.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and the expected service setting, plus benchmarking guidance where available, common billing considerations, and recent policy updates affecting imaging-guided urologic procedures. The publication outlines how the code functions as an add-on to primary procedures, typical utilization patterns in outpatient and ambulatory surgical settings, and administrative points relevant for claim submission.
This summary equips coding managers, revenue cycle professionals, and clinical leaders with a clear understanding of what CPT code 50706 represents, which payers commonly cover this service type, and where to focus operational attention when documenting and billing for image-guided ureteral balloon dilation. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable in detailed sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 50706 describes an add-on interventional radiology procedure in which ultrasound and/or fluoroscopy guidance is used to dilate a ureteral stricture with a balloon catheter. The service includes radiological supervision and interpretation and is performed to open or widen a narrowed segment of the ureter to restore or improve urinary flow.
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Service type: Image-guided ureteral balloon dilation (add-on interventional procedure)
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Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgical center where fluoroscopy and ultrasound imaging are available for real-time guidance
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 55-year-old with recurrent left flank pain and hydronephrosis seen on ultrasound and CT. The patient has a history of ureteral stricture following prior ureteroscopy and stone extraction. Conservative management failed and antegrade or retrograde endoscopic evaluation demonstrated a discrete short-segment ureteral narrowing. The urologist schedules balloon dilation of the ureteral stricture using fluoroscopic and/or ultrasound guidance during an operating room or interventional suite encounter. Under general or regional anesthesia, cystoscopy or antegrade access is obtained, a guidewire is passed across the stricture, and a balloon catheter is advanced and inflated under live fluoroscopy or ultrasound to dilate the narrowed ureteral segment. Radiological supervision and interpretation are provided as part of the service. Typical sites of service include the hospital operating room, ambulatory surgery center, or interventional radiology suite. The procedure is coded as 50706 as an add‑on when performed in conjunction with a primary qualifying procedure; documentation should include indication, site, laterality, imaging guidance used, balloon size and inflation parameters, immediate outcome, and any complications.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Used when separately reporting the physician interpretation portion of a diagnostic imaging service associated with the procedure, if applicable. |