latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap with expander
I would not use 19357 but would instead use 19361 and 19340 referenceing the CPT assistant ,March 2010 page: 9, 10 . Question:
What are the appropriate codes to report for a breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and with tissue expander?
Answer:
For breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and with tissue expander, the correct codes are 19361 and 19340 (as the tissue expander is considered to be a breast prosthesis). It would not be appropriate to separately report code 19357, Breast reconstruction, immediate or delayed, with tissue expander, including subsequent expansion.
Previously, code 19361's descriptor included "with or without" that some read as indicating the inclusion of the insertion of an implant (when performed), rather than that the service may be done in conjunction with the use of an implant. For CPT 2007, the "with or without" was removed from the descriptor to clarify separate reporting of the additional effort to prepare and insert a prosthetic implant beneath a muscle flap for breast reconstruction. In addition, a parenthetical instruction was added following code 19361, to direct users to report code 19340 for insertion of the prosthesis, when performed in conjunction with breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap, without prosthetic implant (code 19361).
I hope this clarifies the confusion on which codes to use