Gastroenterology Coding Alert
FNA May Be Bundled
Question: A 62-year-old male was recently diagnosed with a rectal adenocarcinoma by colonoscopy after presenting with hematochezia and anemia. The gastroenterologist was called to perform a rectal endoscopic ultrasound. At the time of the exam, enlarged perirectal lymph nodes were found, and the physician performed an endoscopic ultrasound fine needle aspiration (EUS FNA). Which codes reflect the FNA? Codify Subscriber Answer: You will report the EUS session with 45392 (Colonoscopy, flexible; with transendoscopic ultrasound guided intramural or transmural fine needle aspiration/biopsy(s), includes endoscopic ultrasound examination limited to the rectum, sigmoid, descending, transverse, or ascending colon and cecum, and adjacent structures). You should support the procedure with ICD-10 code C20 (Malignant neoplasm of rectum). There is no need to report a separate FNA code since the descriptor for 45392 clearly includes the service. A single code is reported even if more than one site is examined or biopsied.
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FNA May Be Bundled
Question: A 62-year-old male was recently diagnosed with a rectal adenocarcinoma by colonoscopy after presenting [...]
