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...

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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 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

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Billing staff
  • Compliance teams
  • Clinical documentation specialists
  • Breast imaging and surgery practices

Codes Discussed


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