Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Nasal cavity polyp also goes by the term "choanal" and "nasopharyngeal."

If the otolaryngologist performed a removal of a middle turbinate endoscopically, you would report it with CPT 31240 -- subsequently linking this procedure to a diagnosis code. One possibility is 471.0 (Polyp of nasal cavity).

When ICD-9 becomes ICD-10 in 2013, you will have to shift to coding type of polyp using the code J33.0 (Polyp of nasal cavity).

ICD difference: The conversion to ICD-10 will offer no difference since 471.0's and J33.0's descriptors are a wordfor-word translation of each other. This diagnosis should also be referred to as "choanal" and "nasopharyngeal" polyp.

Coder tips: An otolaryngologist may also remove a patient's intranasal lesion (i.e., 471.0) using excision by internal approach. In this case, you should report 30117 (Excision or destruction [e.g., laser], intranasal lesion; internal approach).