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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesFNA Cytopathology ProceduresCPT cpt-88172-fna-cytologic-rapid-onsite-evaluation
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    CPT 88172: Cytopathology Rapid On-Site Evaluation of FNA

    Medicare pays $37 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88172 describes a laboratory technical procedure in which a lab analyst performs immediate on-site cytopathology assessment of a fine needle aspirate (FNA) specimen to determine whether an adequate sample for diagnosis was obtained; service type: rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) of cytology specimens; typical site of service: performed at the procedure location such as outpatient clinic, radiology suite, or pathology/cytology laboratory concurrent with FNA sampling.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 56-year-old patient presents to an outpatient clinic with a palpable thyroid nodule. The endocrinologist performs an ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) to obtain cellular material for cytologic diagnosis. Immediately after each pass, a cytotechnologist in the procedure room prepares and performs a rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) of the FNA smear to determine specimen adequacy and whether additional passes are needed. The procedure is performed in an ambulatory surgical center or outpatient clinic procedure room; specimens that are satisfactory are placed in appropriate fixative and sent to the pathology laboratory for formal cytopathology reporting. The documentation includes the number of passes, on-site adequacy assessment, and communication between the pathologist/cytotechnologist and the proceduralist regarding the need for additional sampling.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10022Fine needle aspiration without imaging guidance; first lesionRepresents the FNA procedure that yields the specimen analyzed by ROSE; typically reported by the proceduralist.
    10021Fine needle aspiration; without imaging guidance, diagnostic or therapeuticAlternative FNA code for simple aspirations; the ROSE under 88172 assesses adequacy of smears obtained.
    88174Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate, interpretation and reportRepresents the final cytopathology interpretation and report following specimen processing; follows ROSE.
    88175Cytopathology, cell block preparation from fine needle aspirationCell block preparation may be performed after ROSE confirms adequacy and additional material is available.
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationMay be used if subsequent tissue core or surgical specimen is obtained based on FNA/ROSE findings and submitted for histopathology.

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    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…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    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…
    90Modifier ‑90 (Reference/Outside Laboratory) indicates that a laboratory test was performed by an entity other than the treating or reporting provider. The American Medical Association defines…- Use CPT modifier -90 when a laboratory test is performed by an outside/reference laboratory (an entity other than the treating or reporting physician or qualified professional) and the claim needs…
    91Modifier 91 — “Repeat Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Test” — is appended when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once for the same patient on the same day because serial,…- Use modifier 91 when the exact same CPT laboratory test is performed more than once on the same patient on the same date because serial or repeated testing is medically necessary to monitor…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RH0000X
    207RC0000X
    363A00000X
    207LP2900X
    207RH0002X
    363LA2100X
    163WL0100X
    207KI0005X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-88173-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATE-CYTOPATHOLOGY-ANALYSIS-AND-REPORT

    CPT 88173: Cytopathology of Fine Needle Aspirate with Interpretation

    CPT-88174-AUTOMATED-THIN-LAYER-CYTOLOGY-SCREENING

    CPT 88174: Automated Thin-Layer Cervical/Vaginal Cytology Screening

    CPT-88175-AUTOMATED-THIN-LAYER-CERVICAL-VAGINAL-CYTOLOGY-SCREENING

    CPT 88175: Automated Thin-Layer Cervicovaginal Cytology with Review

    CPT-88177-CYTOPATHOLOGY-RAPID-ON-SITE-EVALUATION-ADDITIONAL-EPISODE

    CPT 88177: Rapid On-Site Cytopathology Evaluation for FNA

    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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