Surgery: Integumentary System (Q&A) (December 2016)
December 2016 page 16
Surgery: Integumentary System
Question: What CPT code should be used to report a breast biopsy, when the only guidance used is tomographic guidance?
Answer: Currently there is no CPT code available to report a tomographic-guided breast biopsy. Therefore, when tomosynthesis is the only imaging guidance used during the breast biopsy, code 19499, Unlisted procedure, breast, should be reported. When reporting an unlisted procedure code, it is necessary to submit supporting documentation (eg, procedure report) along with the claim to provide an adequate description of the nature, extent, and need for the procedure, and the time...
Note: The following article synopsis was NOT provided by the AMA. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.
Article Overview
This short Q&A from CPT Assistant discusses a breast biopsy reporting scenario in the integumentary surgery section. It is relevant to coders, billing staff, and clinical documentation teams working with breast procedures, imaging-guided services, and unlisted procedure reporting. The article centers on the coding context for a specific guidance-related biopsy scenario and the documentation expectations associated with unlisted procedure claims.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers quickly determine whether the article addresses a breast biopsy reporting question involving tomographic guidance and unlisted procedure handling.
What You Will Learn
The general coding context for a breast biopsy scenario involving imaging guidance
How the article frames reporting when no specific CPT option is available
What types of supporting documentation are discussed in relation to unlisted procedure reporting
The scope of the integumentary surgery Q&A in the December 2016 CPT Assistant issue
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