Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: How should I code my medical oncologist's fine needle aspiration with ultrasound guidance?


Arizona Subscriber

Answer: For guidance of this needle aspiration, report 76942 (Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement [e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device], imaging supervision and interpretation). The aspiration merits 10022 (Fine needle aspiration; with imaging guidance).

You may report 76942 for each lesion biopsied, appending a modifier to subsequent codes, according to your payer guidelines. For example, you may need to append 59 (Distinct procedural service), RT (Right side), and/or LT (Left side).

Caution: Report 76942 only once per biopsy site, no matter how many passes the physician makes for that particular lesion.

Physicians may perform fine needle aspiration with any size and type of needle, but most often they use a very thin needle to aspirate cells or fluid.

Remember: Bone marrow aspirations have their own codes (such as 38220, Bone marrow; aspiration only).