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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Don't Miss Transformation Zone Nuance

Published on Mon Feb 23, 2009

Question: If the transformation zone is lacking in a Pap smear, does that necessarily mean that it is unsatisfactory? Iowa Subscriber Answer: In most cases, a Pap smear that fails to sample the transformation zone would be considered unsatisfactory -- but not always. In fact, ICD-9 2009 introduces a new code for cases when the Pap involves a satisfactory smear without the transformation zone. The code is 795.07 (Satisfactory cervical smear but lacking transformation zone). The transformation zone changes position in response to a woman's hormonal changes. A woman who is postmenopausal may have no endocervical cells in the transformation zone. But based on her postmenopausal status, the Pap smear would still be satisfactory. Avoid this: Don't report every Pap smear that lacks the transformation zone as an unsatisfactory smear (795.08, Unsatisfactory cervical cytology smear).
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