Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: My neurosurgeon performed a right transcervical approach for a resection of a T1 paraspinal tumor and resection of right T1 rib head. I am looking at the 63300 - 63306 codes, but these don't show the same approach my surgeon used. Can you help me select the correct code?

Alabama Subscriber

Answer: There is insufficient detail to provide a specific code. One might infer from the description that either a posterior approach was used (i.e. laminectomy code), a costovertebral approach, or a lateral extracavitary approach. These latter two approaches have codes for discectomy or corpectomy, but not for resection of a neoplasm. This may be best described as with unlisted code 64999.