Summary & Overview
CPT 51726: Cystometry for Bladder Capacity and Pressure Measurement
CPT code 51726 represents cystometry, a urodynamic test that measures bladder capacity and pressure and evaluates bladder contraction and expulsion. The procedure is clinically significant for diagnosing urinary disorders such as incontinence, neurogenic bladder, and voiding dysfunction, and it influences clinical decision-making about medical and surgical management of lower urinary tract conditions. Nationally, cystometry is performed across hospital outpatient departments and specialized urology clinics and is relevant to Medicare and major commercial payers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for CPT code 51726, typical sites of service, common billing modifiers (listed separately), and what to expect in claim submission settings. The publication summarizes benchmarking and coverage considerations, highlights documentation and coding points that affect claim adjudication, and outlines the procedure’s role in care pathways for patients with suspected bladder dysfunction.
This resource is intended for coding professionals, billing teams, and policy analysts seeking concise national-level information on the clinical purpose and administrative context of CPT code 51726. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 51726 describes a cystometer procedure used to measure bladder capacity and intravesical pressure, and to evaluate bladder contraction and expulsion activity. This diagnostic test is used to assess bladder function and to help diagnose urinary disorders such as urinary incontinence, neurogenic bladder, and voiding dysfunction.
Service Type: Urodynamic testing / cystometry
Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient department or specialized urology clinic
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old female with progressive urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia, and episodes of urinary retention is referred to urology for evaluation. Noninvasive testing including post-void residual and bladder diary suggests impaired bladder emptying and suspected detrusor instability. The urologist schedules a cystometrogram to measure bladder capacity, compliance, and detrusor pressure during filling and provocation maneuvers.
The clinical workflow: the patient arrives to an outpatient urology clinic or ambulatory surgery center. After informed consent and review of anticoagulation status, a sterile transurethral catheter and intravesical pressure sensor are placed. The bladder is filled with saline at a controlled rate while simultaneous abdominal and intravesical pressures are recorded. Provocative maneuvers (cough, Valsalva) and sensory thresholds are documented. After filling and any voiding attempts, catheters are removed and findings are discussed with the patient. Results guide diagnosis and management for conditions such as neurogenic bladder, detrusor overactivity, or bladder outlet obstruction.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when only the physician interpretation/report is billed separate from the technical component. |