Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: How should a punch excisional biopsy of the left tonsil be coded?

Tennessee Subscriber

 
Answer: Use 42800 (biopsy; oropharynx) if the otolaryngologist did not use a scope. Code 31510 (laryngoscopy, indirect; with biopsy), 31535 (laryngoscopy, direct, operative, with biopsy) or 31536 ( with operating microscope) if an endoscope was used. There is no specific code for a biopsy of the tonsils.
 
Note: CPT classifies indirect laryngoscopy as an endoscopy, even though the procedure requires a mirror rather than an endoscope.