tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2008 Issue 4

You Be the Coder: What Code for Lap Liver Bx?

Questions: The surgeon performed a laparoscopic cholecystectomy-and a liver biopsy at the same time. The biopsy occurs laparoscopically through the same incision as the lap chole. How should I report the liver biopsy? Illinois Subscriber Answer: Because this is a laparoscopic procedure, the obvious liver biopsy codes do not apply. Codes 47000 (Biopsy of liver, needle; percutaneous) and +47001 (- when done for indicated purpose at time of other major procedure) are both through-the-skin procedures, and 47100 (Biopsy of liver, wedge) describes an open liver approach. Frustratingly, the only laparoscopy codes in CPT's "liver" portion, 47370-47371, describe ablation of...

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