Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: What are the most common therapeutic bronchoscopy codes?California SubscriberAnswer: Usually, prolonged or traumatic intubation or prior tracheotomies brings about the need for therapeutic bronchoscopy. CPT® 31630 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with tracheal/bronchial dilation or closed reduction of fracture) is commonly used. You would use 31631 (... with placement of tracheal stent[s] [includes tracheal/bronchial dilation as required]) when the pulmonologist expands an area where a lesion protrudes, for instance, scar tissue from previous surgeries.More codes related to therapeutic bronchoscopy include 31635 (... with removal of foreign body); 31640 (... with excision of tumor); and 31641 (... with destruction of tumor or relief of stenosis by any method other than excision [e.g., laser therapy, cryotherapy]). You would use 31643 (... with placement of catheter[s] for intracavitary radioelement application) for catheter placement for large, endobronchial tumors with substantial submucosal and parancheal tumor load. The physician usually chooses [...]