Wiki Colonoscope with polyp removal and biopsy

[louisel]

How would I code a colonoscope with 3 polyps removed and a biopsy that was malignant?

 

[tvillarino]

It would depend on what technique was used to remove the polyps. Since the codes for removal with hot biopsy forceps and snare technique include one or more polyps I would only report them once for this encounter if either of those was the technique used. I don't think the malignancy will affect the CPT code selection but if you doctor signed off on the pathology report then I would report the malignancy as a diagnosis.