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    OpenPayerBilling CodesFNA Cytopathology ProceduresCPT cpt-88177-cytopathology-rapid-on-site-evaluation-additional-episode
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    CPT 88177: Rapid On-Site Cytopathology Evaluation for FNA

    Medicare pays $20 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 88177 describes a technical laboratory procedure in which a lab analyst performs an immediate cytopathology evaluation of a fine needle aspirate specimen to determine if a satisfactory sample is present for diagnosis; this service is an additional, separate evaluation episode after the first on the same site and is typically performed as a point-of-care intra-procedural cytology adequacy assessment during an interventional radiology clinic or outpatient procedure setting or in a pathology/cytology laboratory supporting bedside or procedure-room testing.

    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 58-year-old patient presents to an outpatient interventional radiology suite with a palpable thyroid nodule identified on ultrasound. The clinician performs a fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the nodule with immediate on-site evaluation (ROSE) by a cytotechnologist. The cytology laboratory analyst performs a rapid technical preparation and staining of the aspirate and examines the specimen microscopically to determine specimen adequacy. If the first pass is inadequate, the clinician obtains additional passes and the lab analyst performs separate immediate evaluations for each additional pass at the same site. The service is typically billed by hospital or independent pathology laboratories supporting outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, or radiology suites during procedures such as thyroid, lymph node, or lung FNA. The typical workflow: clinician obtains aspirate → sample sent to lab analyst for rapid on-site technical evaluation (88177) → results reported immediately to clinician to guide additional sampling or end procedure → final cytology interpreted later by pathologist.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10022Fine needle aspiration; without imaging guidanceRepresents the clinician-performed FNA procedure that generates the specimen evaluated by 88177.
    10005Fine needle aspiration biopsy, without imaging guidance; first lesionAlternatively used for FNA of initial lesion; associated with specimen adequacy assessment by 88177.
    88172Cytopathology, smears and/or fluid cytology, interpretation by pathologist or cytotechnologist; immediate cytologic evaluationOften reported for the interpretive component or initial rapid on-site evaluation; 88177 is used for each additional separate immediate evaluation episode after the first on the same site.
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationRepresents subsequent formal cytopathology or surgical pathology processing and interpretation after ROSE adequacy is determined.
    76942Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (ie, for biopsy, aspiration, or injection)Commonly performed immediately before or during FNA to guide sampling that will be assessed with 88177.
    88175Cytopathology, slides prepared from fine needle aspirate, initial interpretationRelated initial slide preparations; 88177 applies to additional immediate evaluations beyond the first at the same site.

    Related Modifiers

    6 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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    363A00000X
    207L00000X
    2086S0105X
    261QP0904X
    2279P3900X
    207YX0901X
    332BC3200X
    261QI0500X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    26 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C71.9Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified
    C73Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland
    C77.9Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph node, unspecified
    D09.0Carcinoma in situ of bladder
    D37.9Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of digestive organ, unspecified
    D49.2Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin
    E04.1Nontoxic single thyroid nodule
    E04.2Nontoxic multinodular goiter

    Showing 1–10 of 26

    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-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

    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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