General Question for the Week of March 17, 2025

Question:

When performing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), how should codes 37252 and 37253 be assigned for multiple vessel imaging, and what are the coding guidelines for imaging a bridging lesion that crosses from one vessel to another?

Answer:

Report 37252 for the first vessel imaged with IVUS, and 37253 for each additional vessel imaged for a separate pathology. If a vessel is imaged multiple times (such as prior to, during, and after an intervention), code only once, not for each time the IVUS transducer is introduced into that vessel. If a single pathology such as a bridging lesion crosses from one vessel to another, report only 37252 even though two vessels may be imaged. Codes 37252 and 37253 may be reported with either diagnostic or therapeutic non-coronary artery intravascular procedures unless specifically noted in CPT®. Do not report 37252/37253 with 37191–37193, or 37197.

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