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tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2000 Issue 9

Reader Question: Coding a Lesion as Benign Or Malignant

Question: How do you code a lesion of the skin if, at the time of excision, the surgeon does not know whether it is benign or malignant?Kay BellMurphy, N.C.Answer: Waiting for the pathology report is the most accurate way to code neoplasms of the skin. This report is beneficial to the coder and reveals whether the lesion is benign or malignant. Use the size of the lesion stated in the documentation provided by the physician, as the pathology report gives only the size of the specimen, which may or may not be the same as the...

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