Summary & Overview
CPT 57505: Endocervical Curettage for Diagnostic Tissue Sampling
Headline: CPT code 57505 — Endocervical curettage procedure used for diagnostic tissue sampling
Lead: CPT code 57505 identifies a focused gynecologic procedure in which a provider obtains tissue from the endocervix with a curette, performed independently of dilation and curettage. The code is used nationally to capture a common diagnostic technique for evaluating endocervical pathology.
CPT code 57505 represents an endocervical sampling procedure performed for diagnostic purposes. It matters nationally because it is a discrete, billable gynecologic service frequently used in outpatient settings to evaluate abnormal cervical findings or bleeding. Accurate coding affects clinical documentation, appropriate site-of-service classification, and claims processing for diagnostic gynecologic care.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find practical context on clinical intent and service setting, typical billing considerations, and national benchmarks where available. The publication provides an overview of standard use cases, payer coverage scope, and how the code fits within gynecologic diagnostic pathways. Data not available in the input will be clearly identified where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 57505 describes a procedure in which a provider collects tissue samples from the endocervix using a curette; the procedure is explicitly not part of a dilation and curettage. This is a gynecologic endocervical sampling procedure performed for diagnostic tissue collection.
Service type: Surgical diagnostic procedure
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic or ambulatory surgery center, or other outpatient gynecologic procedure settings where endocervical sampling is performed.
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old female presents to the outpatient gynecology clinic with intermittent postcoital bleeding and an abnormal cervical cytology report (high‑grade squamous intraepithelial lesion on Pap smear). After speculum exam identifies an endocervical lesion and the provider documents need for diagnostic tissue sampling, an endocervical curettage is performed using a small curette to obtain endocervical canal tissue. The procedure is performed in an ambulatory clinic procedure room with the patient in lithotomy position under local anesthesia; specimens are placed in formalin and sent to surgical pathology. The clinical workflow includes informed consent, targeted exam, specimen labeling, pathology request with clinical history, and routine post‑procedure instructions for bleeding and infection precautions.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the day of procedure | Use when a distinct evaluation and management visit is performed and documented on the same day as 57505. |
26 | Professional component |