Otolaryngology Coding Alert
How to Report Vallecular Cyst Marsupialization
Question: The otolaryngologist inserted a Dedo laryngoscope into the oral cavity. This showed a mucous cyst in the vallecula that the surgeon marsupialized. He sent a portion for pathologic examination. What would be the correct CPT® code for this procedure?
West Virginia Subscriber
Answer: The correct code is 31535 (Laryngoscopy, direct, operative, with biopsy).
Condition note: Laryngeal cysts can occur in any part of larynx, but are more frequent on supraglottic locations, such as the epiglottis and vallecula. Vallecular cysts are typically present at birth in the tongue base of affected infants. Some physicians believe that the cyst develops because of an obstruction of a minor salivary gland while others believe that the cyst is a variant of a thyroglossal duct cyst. Surgeons can treat laryngeal cysts in different ways, including aspiration, marsupialization with laser ablation and complete excision.
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How to Report Vallecular Cyst Marsupialization
Question: The otolaryngologist inserted a Dedo laryngoscope into the oral cavity. This showed a mucous cyst [...]
