Pathology Consultation: Coding Frozen Sections (July 2000)

July 2000 page 4 Coding Update Pathology Consultation: Coding Frozen Sections During the course of a surgical procedure, a pathology consultation may be required. Pathology consultations during surgery that involve frozen sections are reported with codes 88331 and 88332 . 88331 Pathology consultation during surgery; with frozen section(s), single specimen 88332 each additional tissue block with frozen section(s) Frozen sections are often used for intraoperative, rapid preliminary microscopic diagnoses to guide the operating physician to the most appropriate surgical intervention(s). In code 88331 , the phrase "...with frozen section(s), single specimen," has caused some confusion over the intent of...

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This CPT® Assistant article discusses pathology consultation coding for frozen sections during surgery. It is aimed at pathology coders, surgical pathology staff, and compliance professionals who need to understand how the article frames intraoperative consultation reporting, related specimen handling concepts, and how these services connect to subsequent pathology coding. The article also includes clinical examples showing the overall reporting context for frozen section work, definitive examination, and related pathology services.

Why This Topic Matters

Frozen section coding can affect how intraoperative pathology services are reported within surgical cases and how those services relate to later pathology billing. Understanding the article helps coding professionals interpret the scope of the guidance and recognize the service categories involved.

Article Sections

  1. Coding Update

    Introduces the topic of pathology consultation coding during surgery and frames the discussion around frozen section reporting.

  2. Defining the Terms

    Explains the basic specimen-processing terms used in the article and how they relate to frozen section workflow.

  3. Clinical Examples

    Provides illustrative surgical pathology scenarios that show the overall reporting context for intraoperative consultation and subsequent pathology services.

What You Will Learn

  • How the article frames pathology consultation services during surgery
  • The terminology used to describe frozen section specimen handling
  • The broader reporting context for intraoperative pathology and later definitive examination
  • How the article uses clinical examples to illustrate frozen section coding scenarios

Who Should Read This

  • Pathology coders
  • Surgical pathology laboratories
  • Compliance professionals
  • Medical billing staff
  • Health information management professionals

Codes Discussed


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