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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesUrethra and Bladder Transurethral Surgical ProceduresCPT cpt-52260-diagnostic-cystoscopy-interstitial-cystitis-evaluation
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    CPT 52260: Cystoscopic Inspection Under Anesthesia for Interstitial Cystitis

    Medicare pays $189 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 52260 describes a cystoscopic inspection performed with the patient under general or spinal anesthesia, in which a cystoscope is passed through the urethra to visualize the urethra, prostatic urethra (in men), bladder interior, and ureteral orifices to assess the bladder for interstitial cystitis; service type: diagnostic cystoscopy under anesthesia; typical site of service: operating room or procedure suite (inpatient or ambulatory surgery center) where general or spinal anesthesia is provided.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Abortion Services, Prolonged Services for Labor Management, Prolonged Services for Labor Management.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 52-year-old female with a 12-month history of chronic pelvic pain, urinary urgency, frequency, and nocturia presents for evaluation of suspected interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Conservative therapies including behavioral modification, pelvic floor physical therapy, and oral medications provided incomplete relief. The urologist schedules a diagnostic cystoscopy with the patient under spinal or general anesthesia to inspect the urethra, prostatic urethra (if male), bladder mucosa, trigone, and ureteric orifices and to assess for Hunner lesions, glomerulations, mucosal friability, or other findings consistent with IC/BPS.

    The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation and informed consent, anesthesia clearance (general or spinal), intraoperative cystoscopic inspection with documentation of findings (including presence/absence of Hunner lesions), photography or video capture as indicated, and postoperative recovery with discharge instructions and pathology or culture only if specimens are obtained. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient operating room under monitored anesthesia care, spinal anesthesia, or general endotracheal anesthesia. The service type is diagnostic endoscopic bladder inspection performed under anesthesia to evaluate interstitial cystitis.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    52000Cystourethroscopy, diagnostic, with or without collection of specimen(s) by brushing or washingOften billed for awake or limited diagnostic cystoscopy in office settings; relates as alternative to anesthetized cystoscopy
    52204Cystourethroscopy, with ablation of tumor(s), single or multiple, in bladder or urethra; simplePerformed if suspicious bladder lesions requiring immediate ablation are identified during cystoscopy
    52224Cystourethroscopy with removal of foreign body, calculus, or bladder stone; cystolitholapaxyIf bladder calculi or foreign bodies are found during inspection and are addressed during the same session
    52235Cystourethroscopy, with fulguration or resection of lesion(s) of bladder neck, internal sphincter or urethraIf lesions amenable to fulguration are identified during diagnostic cystoscopy
    52040Cystourethroscopy, with ureteroscopy and/or pyeloscopy, with or without irrigation, diagnosticIf evaluation extends to ureteral orifices and ureteral inspection is performed beyond standard cystoscopy
    52287Cystourethroscopy for destruction or fulguration of bladder mucosal lesions, including Hunner lesion procedures (when applicable)Related therapeutic procedure when Hunner lesions are treated at the time of diagnostic cystoscopy

    Related Modifiers

    13 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    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…

    Showing 1–10 of 13

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208D00000X
    207R00000X
    163W00000X
    363L00000X
    2251G0304X
    367500000X
    207SG0207X
    275N00000X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Obstetrics/Gynecology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Abortion ServicesNew Mexico Health Care Authority2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesPremera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesPremera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesBlue Cross Blue Shield - Massachusetts2026-10-01
    Cervical Cancer ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Testing for Fetal AneuploidyOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnosis of VaginitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Screening (Nongenetic)Oscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-52204-CYSTOURETHROSCOPY-WITH-BIOPSY

    CPT 52204: Cystourethroscopy with Biopsy

    CPT-52214-TRANSURETHRAL-BLADDER-URETHRAL-TISSUE-DESTRUCTION

    CPT 52214: Endoscopic Destruction of Bladder/Urethral Tissue

    CPT-52224-CYSTOSCOPY-LESION-DESTRUCTION-MINOR

    CPT 52224: Cystoscopy with Destruction of Minor Bladder Lesion

    CPT-52234-CYSTOSCOPIC-DESTRUCTION-SMALL-BLADDER-LESION

    CPT 52234: Cystoscopy with Destruction of Small Bladder Lesion

    CPT-52235-CYSTOSCOPIC-DESTRUCTION-MEDIUM-BLADDER-LESION-2-5CM

    CPT 52235: Cystoscopy with Fulguration of Medium Bladder Lesion

    CPT-52240-CYSTOSCOPY-LESION-FULGURATION-ABLATION-GREATER-THAN-5CM

    CPT 52240: Cystoscopy with Destruction of Bladder Lesion (>5.0 cm)

    CPT-52250-CYSTOSCOPIC-INTRAVESICAL-RADIOACTIVE-THERAPY-FOR-BLADDER-CANCER

    CPT 52250: Cystoscopy with Intravesical Radioisotope Therapy

    CPT-52265-DIAGNOSTIC-CYSTOSCOPY-INTERSTITIAL-CYSTITIS-EVALUATION

    CPT 52265: Diagnostic Cystoscopy for Interstitial Cystitis

    CPT-52270-CYSTOSCOPIC-URETHROTOMY-INTERNAL-URETHRAL-STRICTURE

    CPT 52270: Cystoscopy with Incision of Internal Urethral Stricture (Female)

    CPT-52275-CYSTOSCOPY-INTERNAL-URETHROTOMY-STRICTURE-INCISION

    CPT 52275: Cystoscopy with Internal Urethrotomy

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    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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