CCSD code N1352 – Laparoscopy for impalpable testis

Key takeaways

CCSD Code N1352 is laparoscopy for impalpable testis, a keyhole look inside the abdomen to find a testis that cannot be felt on examination.

N1352 sits in the genitalia section of CCSD chapter 12. Bupa lists it as Intermediate, band INTER 2, with a schedule fee of £286 in February 2026.

Orchiopexy has its own codes, N0920 for one side and N0820 for both, so the code follows what the operative note records.

Pair N1352 with ICD-10 Q53.1, Q53.2 or Q53.9 for an undescended testis, and Q55.0 when laparoscopy confirms the testis is absent.

For combined, repeat or bilateral procedures, follow the CCSD Technical Guide business rules and the insurer. CCSD has no CPT-style modifiers.

What is CCSD Code N1352?

CCSD Code N1352 is the code for laparoscopy for impalpable testis. The surgeon uses a camera passed through the abdominal wall to look for a testis that cannot be felt in the groin or scrotum.

CCSD stands for Clinical Coding and Schedule Development, the shared schedule of private insurer procedure codes in the UK. Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality all work from it, and claims usually travel electronically through Healthcode.

Fees and bands change, so check the insurer’s current schedule before you quote a patient. Our Bupa CCSD codes reference lists the full schedule by chapter.

The laparoscopy for impalpable testis procedure

The operation is usually a day case under general anaesthetic. The surgeon first examines the patient again under anaesthesia. A testis that could not be felt in clinic is sometimes palpable once the patient is relaxed.

If the testis is still impalpable, a camera port goes in at the umbilicus. The surgeon then inspects the internal inguinal ring, the testicular vessels and the vas deferens. The finding usually falls into one of three groups.

• Intra-abdominal testis: the testis lies inside the abdomen, above the internal ring. The surgeon may bring it down in the same session or plan a later operation.
• Testis at or through the ring: the vessels and vas pass into the inguinal canal. The surgeon then explores the groin to find the testis or a remnant.
• Absent testis: the vessels and vas end blindly inside the abdomen. This is often called a vanishing testis, and no further search is needed.

Each finding leads somewhere different, so the operative note decides which further codes, if any, belong on the claim. The diagram maps each finding to its next code and its ICD-10 diagnosis.

When is N1352 the correct code?

N1352 is correct when the surgeon performs a laparoscopy to locate a testis that cannot be felt. It is not the right code in three common situations.

• The testis is palpable in the groin and the surgeon goes straight to an open orchiopexy. Code the orchiopexy instead.
• The surgeon explores the testis through an open incision rather than with a camera. That is N1350, exploration of testis (including biopsy).
• The testis is removed laparoscopically. That is N0630, laparoscopic orchidectomy.

An undescended testis is most often treated in childhood. European Association of Urology guidance recommends surgery before 12 months of age, and by 18 months at the latest. Chapter 12 is not a paediatric chapter, though, and N1352 applies to adults with an impalpable testis too.

Guidance also advises against routine ultrasound before surgery for a non-palpable testis, because imaging rarely changes the plan. Laparoscopy remains the standard way to find it.

ICD-10 diagnosis codes to pair with N1352

UK insurers expect a diagnosis code from the WHO ICD-10 classification on each claim. For N1352, the code usually comes from category Q53, undescended and ectopic testicle.

Keep the diagnosis on the claim consistent with the one on the pre-authorisation. If laparoscopy shows the testis is absent, tell the insurer before you invoice on Q55.0.

Related CCSD codes in the genitalia section

Several genitalia codes sit close to N1352 in the schedule. The table shows Bupa’s February 2026 band and fee for each, so coders can see how the operative note changes the claim.

The schedule has no separate bilateral code for N1352, unlike orchiopexy and fixation. How a bilateral laparoscopy, or a laparoscopy followed by orchiopexy, is billed depends on the CCSD Technical Guide business rules and the insurer. Bilateral orchiopexy is billed once under CCSD N0820, the code for both sides. Epididymectomy is another operation with a dedicated bilateral code, CCSD N1510.

Do not assume a percentage reduction or a modifier. CCSD has no CPT-style modifiers, so check with the insurer before you invoice more than one code.

Documentation requirements for N1352 claims

An N1352 claim depends on the operative note. Insurers that audit a payment look for the following details.

1. Examination under anaesthesia: state that the testis was still impalpable once the patient was asleep.
2. Side: record left, right or both, with the findings for each side.
3. Structures seen: describe the internal ring, the testicular vessels and the vas deferens.
4. Finding: say whether the testis was intra-abdominal, at the ring, or absent with blind-ending vessels.
5. Further procedures: list any orchiopexy, groin exploration or orchidectomy done in the same session.
6. Surgeon and authorisation: include the surgeon’s name, GMC number, the date and the insurer’s pre-authorisation reference.

When no testis is found, the note still supports N1352. The code describes the laparoscopy that was performed, whatever it showed.

Pre-authorisation requirements by insurer

Most UK private medical insurers expect pre-authorisation before elective surgery, including N1352. Requirements differ between insurers and policies, so confirm them for each patient.

Many patients are children covered on a parent’s policy. Check that the child is a named member and that the policy covers congenital conditions before you book theatre.

Common claim denial reasons for N1352

Most N1352 denials trace back to the paperwork. The usual causes, and their fixes, are below.

• No pre-authorisation: the invoice has no insurer reference. Ask whether the insurer accepts a retrospective request, and send the clinical notes.
• Code and note disagree: the note describes an open exploration or an orchiopexy, but the invoice says N1352. Recode to match the note.
• Diagnosis mismatch: the ICD-10 code differs from the one authorised. Correct the code, or explain the changed finding to the insurer.
• Extra codes without agreement: a second code was added without checking the insurer’s rules. Confirm them, then resubmit.
• Policy exclusion: the policy excludes congenital or pre-existing conditions. Check cover before surgery, and agree self-pay terms if needed.

The same steps apply to wider denial management in healthcare: find the cause, correct it, then resubmit.

How Pabau supports CCSD billing for urology procedures

Private urology and paediatric surgery practices billing N1352 need each claim to reach the insurer complete. Pabau, the practice management platform we build, submits CCSD-coded claims through Healthcode.

With Pabau’s claims management software, your team tracks each claim and reconciles the insurer’s payment. The operative note sits in the same patient record, so it is ready if an insurer audits the claim.

Practices comparing platforms can weigh these features in our guide to UK medical billing software.

Manage CCSD billing from one place

Pabau submits CCSD-coded claims through Healthcode, then tracks and reconciles them. Surgeons and their billing teams keep claims and operative notes on one patient record.

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Conclusion

N1352 pays for the laparoscopy whatever the camera shows. A laparoscopy that finds no testis is billed exactly like one that finds an intra-abdominal testis. Fixing an abdominal testis afterwards is coded separately, and never with CCSD code N0930, which has been inactive since January 2009.

What changes the claim is the next step. Before the invoice goes out, check that the note records the side, the finding and any further procedure. Then confirm the insurer’s rules for each extra code.

Book a demo to see how Pabau sends CCSD claims through Healthcode and keeps the operative note beside each one.

Continue your research

Need the full CCSD schedule? Bupa CCSD codes covers the procedure code schedule chapter by chapter.

Is the testis being removed laparoscopically? CCSD code N0630 covers billing for laparoscopic orchidectomy.

Chasing a run of rejected insurer claims? Denial management in healthcare sets out how to trace, correct and prevent repeat denials.

Choosing billing software for a UK private practice? The best medical billing software in the UK compares the platforms private practices use to bill insurers.

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