Otolaryngology Coding Alert
Reader Question:
Submit 60260 for Cancer Removal After Thyroidectomy
Published on Wed Jan 21, 2015
Question: The surgeon’s notes state he removed returning cancer from the thyroid bed. The patient previously had a thyroidectomy. Would this be code 60260?
Arkansas Subscriber
Answer: Yes, you should report 60260 (Thyroidectomy, removal of all remaining thyroid tissue following previous removal of a portion of thyroid). For a bilateral procedure, append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure).
Explanation: You turn to 60260 when the physician detects cancer in the remaining tissues of the thyroid after the patient has undergone a previous thyroidectomy. This procedure is also known as a completion thyroidectomy.
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