Surgery: Respiratory System (Q&A) (January 2010)

January 2010 page 11b Surgery: Respiratory System (Q&A) Question: Using a balloon under endoscopic control, a dilation of the frontal sinus ostium is performed. Is this reported as 31276 Nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical with frontal sinus exploration, with or without removal of tissue from frontal sinus? Answer: No. The correct code to report for this service is 31299 Unlisted procedure, accessory sinuses; this includes fluoroscopy, if concurrently performed. However, if a balloon were used endoscopically, along with cutting tools such as curettes and forceps, to create a sinusotomy by removal of tissue from the frontal sinus ostium (and the...

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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 explains a coding question related to endoscopic management of the frontal sinus and compares related respiratory system procedure reporting options. It is intended for coding professionals who work with CPT®-based surgical reporting and need to understand the scope of the guidance discussed in this Q&A format.

Why This Topic Matters

Respiratory system surgery coding can hinge on the specific technique and extent of the procedure. This article helps readers recognize when a question involves unlisted or related endoscopic sinus procedure reporting and why that distinction matters for accurate CPT®-based coding.

Article Sections

  1. January 2010 page 11b

    Introductory publication information for the Q&A content in this issue. It frames the respiratory system topic covered in the article.

What You Will Learn

  • The scope of a respiratory system surgical coding question in a CPT® Assistant Q&A format.
  • How the article frames endoscopic sinus procedure reporting topics.
  • The general type of coding guidance addressed for frontal sinus-related services.
  • The kinds of procedure categories discussed in relation to endoscopic sinus work.

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding auditors
  • Billing specialists
  • Clinical documentation professionals
  • Healthcare reimbursement staff

Codes Discussed


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