Wiki Do "circumferential hemorrhoids" involve all 3 columns?

[apmgreer]

I am reading an op note that says the physician excises "circumferential external hemorrhoidal tissue." The physician doesn't specify the number of columns/groups involved. Does "circumferential" mean that all three columns are involved? Or should the coder query?

 

[OpenClaims]

I am reading an op note that says the physician excises "circumferential external hemorrhoidal tissue." The physician doesn't specify the number of columns/groups involved. Does "circumferential" mean that all three columns are involved? Or should the coder query?

circumferential means "going around the outside edge". So just by that little statement from the provider I am understanding this as 1 hemorrhoidal tissue. He does not specify how many columns so this can be coded as one external hemorrhoid. He just excised all around the one hemorrhoid.