Pulmonology Coding Alert

Question: I am looking for the CPT® code for Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet laser or the YAG laser. Our pulmonologist used this during fiberoptic bronchoscopy to destruct an endobronchial tumor causing atelectasis of the right upper lobe.

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: The use of lasers is one method by which your pulmonologist might destroy a tumor. The laser helps vaporize the tumor tissue with the help of light and heat energy. Your pulmonologist will direct the laser upon the tumor mass by using a flexible or a rigid bronchoscope.

Your pulmonologist will use the Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet (YAG) laser for deep resection of tumors. The depth of resection is significantly more when your pulmonologist uses the YAG laser than other lasers (such as the CO2 or KTP lasers). YAG lasers will be therefore used by your pulmonologist in the resection of bulky tumors. Your pulmonologist might also use these lasers for a palliative procedure on patients with non-resectable obstructive endobronchial or tracheal tumors.

When your pulmonologist uses the YAG laser for destruction of a tumor through bronchoscopy (rigid or flexible), you need to report the procedure using 31641 (Bronchoscopy, rigid or flexible, including fluoroscopic guidance, when performed; with destruction of tumor or relief of stenosis by any method other than excision [e.g., laser therapy, cryotherapy]).