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Official Description

Esophageal intubation and collection of washings for cytology, including preparation of specimens (separate procedure)

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 91000 refers to a specific medical procedure known as esophageal intubation and collection of washings for cytology. This procedure is classified as a separate procedure, meaning it is performed independently and is not part of a larger surgical or diagnostic intervention. During this procedure, a double lumen tube is carefully inserted through the patient's nose or mouth and advanced into the esophagus. The technique involves the injection of normal saline into the esophagus, which is then simultaneously aspirated. This process effectively washes squamous cells from the esophageal epithelium, allowing for the collection of cellular material. The collected samples are then prepared into cytology slides, which are subsequently sent to a laboratory for further analysis. The primary purpose of this procedure is to obtain cellular samples for cytological examination, which can assist in diagnosing various esophageal conditions or abnormalities.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

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