Home
Career Stage
Medical Students Residents Attendings CPT Codes Resources Blog Support

75989 Abscess drainage under x-ray

Radiology

Also known as: abscess drainage, percutaneous drainage, image-guided drainage

Radiographically-guided percutaneous drainage of an infected collection using needle/catheter placement under continuous fluoroscopic visualization.

In Plain Language

X-ray guided abscess drainage; guided infection drainage

Clinical Context

Percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal, pelvic, or thoracic abscesses under fluoroscopic guidance for treatment of infection.

RVU Breakdown

Work RVU1.16
Total RVU1.16

Est. Medicare Payment

$38.74

National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).

Billing & Documentation

Radiology codes require a written order, clinical indication, and a formal interpretation report. The professional component (modifier -26) and technical component (modifier -TC) may be billed separately.

How This Code Compares

With a work RVU of 1.16, this code ranks in the 66th percentile among Radiology codes — 1.4x the median (0.81). The highest wRVU in this category is 11.57.

Specialties

RadiologyInterventional Radiology

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CPT code 75989?

CPT 75989 (Abscess drainage under x-ray) is a Radiology code. Radiographically-guided percutaneous drainage of an infected collection using needle/catheter placement under continuous fluoroscopic visualization.

Who uses CPT code 75989?

CPT 75989 is used by Radiology, Interventional Radiology. Percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal, pelvic, or thoracic abscesses under fluoroscopic guidance for treatment of infection.

When is CPT 75989 used?

Percutaneous drainage of intra-abdominal, pelvic, or thoracic abscesses under fluoroscopic guidance for treatment of infection.

Track This Code in RVU Edge

Log procedures, calculate wRVUs, and benchmark against national data — all in one app.

CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.