Otolaryngology Coding Alert
Reader Question:
42415 Represents Facial Nerve Dissection and Cyst Removal
Published on Tue Jul 15, 2014
Question: I’m coding for a procedure that started out as a parotidectomy with dissection of the seventh facial nerve. It actually became excision of a deep cervical cyst with dissection of the seventh facial nerve. What is the correct code?
Tennessee Subscriber
Answer: As you know, you should always read the entire case report and code by the procedure performed rather than what the surgeon anticipated. In this situation, the appropriate CPT® code is 42415 (Excision of parotid tumor or parotid gland; lateral lobe, with dissection and preservation of facial nerve).
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