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    OpenPayerBilling CodesFNA Cytopathology ProceduresCPT cpt-88173-fine-needle-aspirate-cytopathology-analysis-and-report
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    CPT 88173: Cytopathology of Fine Needle Aspirate with Interpretation

    Medicare pays $116 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88173 describes a cytopathology service in which a laboratory analyst performs the technical processing and microscopic analysis of a fine needle aspirate specimen and then interprets and reports the cytologic findings; service type: cytopathology diagnostic testing with interpretation; typical site of service: outpatient or hospital-based clinical laboratory or pathology department where fine needle aspiration specimens are processed and reviewed.

    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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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient presents to an outpatient surgical clinic with a palpable, enlarging thyroid nodule. The clinician performs a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the nodule under ultrasound guidance. The specimen is placed in an appropriate cytology preservative and sent to the pathology laboratory. A credentialed cytotechnologist or laboratory analyst performs the technical cytopathology preparations and microscopic examination of the FNA specimen, then interprets and reports the cytologic findings to the ordering clinician. Typical sites of service include a hospital outpatient laboratory, independent pathology laboratory, or ambulatory surgical center where FNA samples are processed. The workflow includes specimen accessioning, slide preparation (smear/ThinPrep), staining, microscopic interpretation, documentation in the pathology information system, and final reporting to the clinician. The service corresponds to performance of the technical and professional components of cytopathology for a fine needle aspirate as described by 88173.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10022Fine needle aspiration without imaging guidance; first lesionPerformed to obtain the sample that 88173 (cytopathology analysis) will process and interpret.
    10021Fine needle aspiration without imaging guidance; without aspiration (non-aspiration technique)Alternative sampling technique that yields material for cytopathology analyzed under 88173.
    76942Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection), imaging supervision and interpretationOften used when the FNA is performed under ultrasound guidance prior to cytologic analysis by 88173.
    88172Cytopathology, evaluation of fine needle aspirate; immediate cytologic evaluation, hospital or outpatientPerformed as a rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) during the FNA; 88173 represents the definitive analysis and reporting.
    88305Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, intermediate complexityMay be performed when a cell-block or tissue core accompanies the FNA and requires histopathologic evaluation in addition to the cytology 88173.

    Related Modifiers

    9 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…
    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…
    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…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    207K00000X
    207L00000X
    208D00000X
    208000000X
    2080P1004X
    332800000X
    374700000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    22 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C73Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland
    C84.60Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-positive, unspecified site
    D09.3Carcinoma in situ of thyroid and other endocrine glands
    D44.2Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of parathyroid gland
    D49.2Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin
    E04.1Nontoxic single thyroid nodule
    E05.90Thyrotoxicosis, unspecified without thyrotoxic crisis or storm
    J98.4Other disorders of lung

    Showing 1–10 of 22

    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-88172-FNA-CYTOLOGIC-RAPID-ONSITE-EVALUATION

    CPT 88172: Cytopathology Rapid On-Site Evaluation of FNA

    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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