tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2009 Issue 14

You Be the Coder: Can Breast Specimen Take Skin Code?

Question: The patient's pre-op diagnosis is "breast mass." The op report states, "superficial mass excised for a length of 1.4 cm x 1.1 cm with layered closure." The pathology report states, "ruptured epidermoid cyst/pustular folliculitis." Is 19120 the correct procedure code? Georgia Subscriber Answer: The correct procedure code is 11402 (Excision, benign lesion including margins, except skin tag [unless listed elsewhere], trunk, arms or legs; excised diameter 1.1 to 2.0 cm) Based on the pathology report, the patient had a skin lesion that you would report as 706.2 (Sebaceous cyst). Although...

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