CPT^® 38520, Under Excision Procedures on the Lymph Nodes and Lymphatic Channels

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) code 38520 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Excision Procedures on the Lymph Nodes and Lymphatic Channels.

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Summary

In this procedure, the provider surgically removes the lymph nodes in the deep tissues of the neck and the scalene fat pad through an open incision. He may send them to the laboratory for analysis. The provider performs the procedure as an investigation or treatment of tumors in the neck or chest.

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ICG (Indocyanine green)

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Billing 38900 Intraoperative sentinel Node mapping for gyn onc

You can only bill 38900 with one of the base codes 19302, 19307, 38500, 38510, 38520, 38525, 38530, 38531, 38542, 38562, 38564, 38570, 38571, 38572, 38740, 38745, 38760, 38765, 38770, 38780, 56630, 56... [ Read More ]

Need help!! Coding CPT 38972

[b]2019 update[/b] Since I posted this answer in 2017 & I know people often reference previous posts, I thought it important to update my answer. 38900 add on code is now billable with 38570-38572 fo... [ Read More ]

Billing 38900 Intraoperative sentinel Node mapping for gyn onc

Late to answer, but I was updating a previous post from 2017 regarding this & saw your related question. In 2018, we used 38999 for the ICG sentinel lymph node mapping. I'm very pleased that as of 2... [ Read More ]

Need help!! Coding CPT 38972

[b]Welcome to unlisted codes[/b] I think you had a typo and meant 38792 (not 38972), but regardless, that is unfortunately not the correct code as it is not a radioactive tracer. 38900 exactly preci... [ Read More ]

CANPC Anesthesiology coding essentials book 62 p. (46-60)

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38500

Nearly all of the lymph nodes in the head, face, and neck are part of the cervical system, some are right near the surface of the skin, usually under the chin and on the back of the neck; many more ar... [ Read More ]

38792 vs 38900

38900 is a new code for 2011. Now we have two choices. We have to default to 38792 if 38900 is not a "PX" of the reporting CPT code. Here are the PrimaryPX to 38900. So everything in between like 193... [ Read More ]

3850 Cervical Node Bx

I am hoping there is somebody out there who can help me with this.... My doctor performed an excisional biopsy of deep cervical nodes and in the process removed some fat pad with them. Can he code 3... [ Read More ]

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