March 2019 page 11a
Surgery: Endocrine System
Question: Is it appropriate to report a transcervical thymectomy procedure separately from a bilateral modified radical neck dissection?
Answer: Yes, code 60520, Thymectomy, partial or total; transcervical approach (separate procedure), is reported for the thymectomy; while code 38724, Cervical lymphadenectomy (modified radical neck dissection), is reported separately for a cervical lymphadenectomy that is neither radical nor suprahyoid. Modifier 50, Bilateral procedure, is appended to code 38724 to indicate a bilateral procedure. The thymectomy is a separate procedure and not a component of or integral to neck dissection or lymphadenectomy.
Surgery: Endocrine System...
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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 article is a short CPT coding Q&A from CPT Assistant focused on endocrine-system surgery reporting. It addresses how a thymectomy and a neck dissection are discussed in relation to separate procedure reporting and bilateral procedure modifier usage. The piece is most relevant to surgical coders, reimbursement staff, and compliance teams reviewing procedure bundling and modifier assignment in CPT-based claims.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers understand a specific CPT reporting scenario involving endocrine and neck surgery procedures, which can affect accurate claim submission and coding consistency.
What You Will Learn
The coding topic addressed in a surgical endocrine-system Q&A
How the article frames separate procedure reporting in a neck/thymus surgery context
Where modifier usage is discussed in relation to a bilateral procedure scenario
The type of CPT Assistant guidance provided for a brief surgical coding question
Who Should Read This
Surgical coders
CPT coding professionals
Revenue cycle staff
Compliance auditors
Medical billers
Codes Discussed
CPT: 60520
CPT: 38724
Modifiers Discussed
CPT: 50
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