Radiology Coding Alert
Get a Leg Up on Lymphoscintigraphy Coding
Confused about when to report lymph-imaging code 78195? Ease your mind with this guide to the procedure and appropriate documentation.
Definition: Lymphoscintigraphy is a nuclear imaging procedure used to identify lymphatic drainage patterns, and physicians often use it to identify sentinel nodes, which is the first node in a lymphatic chain that drains lymphatic fluid from a tumor site, says Stacy Gregory, RCC, CPC, of Tacoma, Wash.-based Gregory Medical Consulting Services, citing the December 1999 CPT Assistant.
Physicians use sentinel node injection and biopsy to determine, locate, or stage the amount of lymph involvement in cancer metastasis, says Bruce Hammond, CRA, CMNT, chief operating officer of Diagnostic Health Services in Texas.
The patient may have breast cancer (174.x, Malignant neoplasm of female breast; 175.x, Malignant neoplasm of male breast), cutaneous melanoma (172.x, Malignant melanoma of skin ...), or other cancers.
Documentation: The nuclear physician's documentation should include the following, according to CPT Assistant:
• steps in the procedure
• interpretation of films
• findings.
Radiology Coding Alert
- Tighten Up Your Sentinel Node Claims With This Code-by-Code Breakdown
Read the fine print on payer policies to avoid unexpected bundling frustration
Sentinel node injection and [...] - A Guide to Accuracy:
Get a Leg Up on Lymphoscintigraphy Coding
Protect yourself by knowing the documentation requirements
Confused about when to report lymph-imaging code 78195? Ease [...] - You Be the Coder:
Is Your US Coding on Track?
Question: Which CPT and ICD-9 codes should I report when the radiologist performs a transrectal [...] - Keep These 7 ABCs of AAA Screening Close at Hand
Hint: Tip 2 will save you from countless headaches
You've got a few hoops to jump [...] - Ask the Expert:
Use the Wrong 'Day,' Cheat Yourself of Hard-Earned Dollars
Clear up your E/M-definition confusion with this FAQ
E/M coding has become increasingly important for interventional [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Make VCF Coding a Snap
Question: What is non-traumatic VCF? I need to find a diagnosis code for it.
New York [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Limit This MRA Run Off to 74185/73725
Question: When I code an MRA run-off study, should I report abdomen, pelvis, and lower-extremity [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Stop on 77073 for CT Scanogram
Question: May I report 77073 for CT scanograms, or is this code just for x-rays?
California [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Ask OR About Fluoro Charges
Question: I code for a hospital radiology department (not a physician). If we send personnel [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Meet 3 Criteria to Code Angio and Stent
Question: When the radiologist intends to perform angioplasty or atherectomy, but the intervention fails and [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Turn to Category III for Calcium Scoring
Question: What code should I use for calcium scoring by itself?
Indiana Subscriber
Answer: Report 0144T [...]
