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General Surgery Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Save 21557/24077 for Malignant Neoplasms

Published on Sat Nov 28, 2009

Question: Codes 21557 and 24077 describe radical excision for the neck and arm, respectively. Per CPT, the examples specify "malignant" neoplasm. Can these only be used in the case of malignancy? If so, what should be used in the case of benign tumors, and what needs to be dictated in the report to substantiate the coding? North Carolina Subscriber Answer: You should not use 21557 (Radical resection of tumor [e.g., malignant neoplasm], soft tissue of neck or thorax) and 24077 (Radical resection of tumor [e.g., malignant neoplasm], soft tissue of upper arm or elbow area) for benign tumors. The answer to what the proper coding should be is not the same for the two body areas. For the neck and thorax, if the procedure is truly for soft tissue or muscle benign tumor, you would have to code the excision with code 21899 (Unlisted procedure, neck or thorax). Note that [...]
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