AMA CPT® Assistant - 2007 Issue 12 (December)
Surgery: Integumentary System (December 2007)
December 2007 page 8b Coding Communication:Surgery: Integumentary System Question: The patient had a re-excision of her lumpectomy site along with a sentinel node biopsy. The physician removed two lymph nodes through an axillary incision. The procedure report notes that the lumpectomy cavity was opened and the entire inferior margin was excised from the anterior surface of the lumpectomy cavity to the posterior. Is it appropriate to report the re-excision with code 19302, Mastectomy, partial (eg, lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, segmentectomy); with axillary lymphadenectomy? Also, if no lymph nodes were excised and only a re-excision of the lumpectomy site was performed...
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Article Overview
This premium CPT Assistant article discusses coding questions for breast surgery scenarios involving re-excision of a lumpectomy site and sentinel node biopsy. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and clinical documentation teams who need to understand how the reported procedure elements are categorized within CPT and how a postoperative modifier may affect reporting. The article focuses on common integumentary system surgery questions and clarifies the general relationship between breast tissue re-excision, lymph node procedures, and related postoperative coding considerations.
Why This Topic Matters
Breast surgery cases often combine more than one operative component, and accurate coding depends on recognizing how each part is represented in CPT. This article matters because it helps readers identify the relevant procedure categories and postoperative reporting context for these scenarios.
Article Sections
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Coding Communication: Surgery: Integumentary System
A question-and-answer discussion of breast re-excision and sentinel node biopsy coding in the integumentary surgery context. The section addresses related CPT reporting considerations and postoperative modifier use.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames coding questions involving breast re-excision and sentinel node procedures
- What broad CPT categories are discussed for breast and lymph node reporting
- How postoperative timing and related-procedure reporting are addressed at a high level
- Which general types of documentation details are relevant to these coding questions
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Physician billing staff
- Breast surgery documentation teams
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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