Acoustic Neuroma (Summer 1991)

Why This Topic Matters

The article helps readers understand how a complex neurosurgical case and its associated pathology workup were coded in a historical CPT/ICD-9-CM context. It is relevant for anyone comparing documentation, procedure components, and pathology reporting within a multi-provider surgical encounter.

Article Sections

1. Case-by-Case: Acoustic Neuroma

   Introduces the case presentation and the operative record for a surgical encounter involving an acoustic neuroma. The section includes the general documentation context for the case material.

2. Operative report — Doctor A

   Describes one surgeon’s portion of the combined operation, including the overall procedure and the closure materials used. It presents the operative narrative and the accompanying code summary for that surgeon’s services.

3. Operative report — Doctor B

   Presents the second surgeon’s portion of the same combined operation, with a separate operative narrative and code summary. It also includes the pathology context tied to the specimen from the case.

4. Surgical pathology report

   Summarizes the pathology specimen handling and final diagnostic reporting for the case. The section provides the pathology service coding summary and the related discussion of how the report fits into the overall encounter.

5. Discussion of Rationale for Code Selection

   Explains the general rationale used to connect the operative documentation, pathology findings, and reported services. The discussion is framed around the case and the coding references cited in the article.