Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
Lymph Node Bundling
Question: If we receive iliac and obturator nodes submitted as separate left and right specimens, can we report CPT 88307 for the left and 88307 for the right? Nebraska Subscriber Answer: Yes, if separately identified, the left and right iliac nodes represent two individual regional lymph node resections from two different anatomic sites. The pathologist provides individual examination and diagnosis, and reports two units of 88307 (Level V Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, lymph nodes, regional resection). This scenario is not unusual because surgeons sometimes submit left and right iliac lymph nodes with a prostate resection. Although regional lymph nodes are bundled with some surgical pathology specimens such as a radical mastectomy, they are not bundled with a prostatectomy.
Pathology/Lab Coding Alert
- CCI 8.3 A Bundle of Restrictions
Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) version 8.3 makes it official: You can't report a separate needle [...] - Reader Question:
Professional Component FNA
Question: You stated in a past issue of Pathology/Lab Coding Alert that a fine needle [...] - Reader Question:
Unlisted Humeral Head
Question: How should we report the pathologist's examination of a humeral head submitted from a [...] - Override CCI Edits Cautiously
"Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edit pairs represent services that are bundled components of a more [...] - Pap Consensus Guidelines Know It and Code It
If the new Pap guidelines cause the anticipated explosion of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, you [...] - Choose Between Two Sets of Liquid Cytology Codes
To report liquid cytology Pap tests properly, you have to know not only how the [...] - Cervical Cytology Coding Scenarios
See how the experts code the following scenarios that you might encounter under the new [...] - You Be The Coder:
Needle Localization Breast Biopsy
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Reader Question:
Multiple Immunohistochemical Stains
Question: We occasionally carry out two different immunohistochemistry procedures for sentinel lymph node evaluation and [...] - Reader Question:
Separate Vas Deferens and Prostatectomy
Question: If a surgeon performs a radical prosta-tectomy and separately submits the ampulla of vas [...] - Reader Question:
Lymph Node Bundling
Question: If we receive iliac and obturator nodes submitted as separate left and right specimens, [...]
