Ob-Gyn Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Evaporation Equals Fulguration

Question: One of our physicians performed an -evaporation of endometriosis.- This was done with the aid of a laparoscope. What CPT code should I use?

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Answer: The term -evaporation- in this context means the same thing as -fulguration.- When the ob-gyn performs this procedure through a laparoscope, you should report 58662 (Laparoscopy, surgical; with fulguration or excision of lesions of the ovary, pelvic viscera, or peritoneal surface by any method).
 
Fulguration means that a physician destroys tissue, usually malignant tumors, by means of a high-frequency electric current applied with a needlelike electrode.

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