Radiology Coding Alert

Answer: You report code 76098 (Radiological examination, surgical specimen) applies when your radiologist examines a tissue specimen removed during surgery. You do not report this code when your radiologist provides radiological assistance to obtain a sample for diagnosis. 

 

Key point: You use the code for X-ray of the specimen removed, not for imaging of the operative field.

 

Example: You may use 76098 most often in connection with X-ray of tissue removed from the breast. The imaging allows the radiologist to assess whether the surgeon (or radiologist) biopsied the appropriate area. You may read that your radiologist biopsied an area of the breast using a mammotome system. He then used X-rays to study the specimen to ensure that the sample contains the questionable tissue.