Otolaryngology Coding Alert
Reader Questions:
Check for Scope With Tonsil Biopsy
Published on Wed Mar 16, 2005
Question: How should I report a punch excisional biopsy of the left tonsil?
Tennessee Subscriber
Answer: No specific code exists for a biopsy of the tonsils.
You should instead report the code based on whether the otolaryngologist used a scope. If he didn't, you should assign 42800 (Biopsy; oropharynx).
If the physician used an endoscope, you should report 31535 (Laryngoscopy, direct, operative, with biopsy) or 31536 (... with operating microscope).
Note: CPT classifies "indirect" laryngoscopy as an endoscopy, even though the procedure requires a mirror, not an endoscope.
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