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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

READER QUESTIONS:

Tread Carefully on Cytopathology Source

Published on Sun Aug 23, 2009

Question: When we prepare six or more slides from a fine needle aspiration specimen or other cytology such as CSF direct smears, can we report 88162? Arizona Subscriber Answer: No, you should not use 88162 (Cytopathology, smears, any other source; extended study involving over 5 slides and/or multiple stains) for fine needle aspiration (FNA) specimens or fluid specimens, such as cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), regardless of the number of slides that your prepare. Here's why: The CPT cytopathology section describes different cellular specimen types based on the source, as follows: • non-cervical or vaginal fluids, washings or brushings (88104-88112) • cervical or vaginal (88142-88154, 88164-88167, 88174-88175) • any other source (88160-88162) including specimens, such as sputum and nipple smears • FNA (88172-88173). You select the appropriate cytopathology code by first identifying the specimen source, then identifying the lab method for that source. Using 88162 for an FNA with more than [...]
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