tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2003 Issue 2

Reader Question: Lipoma Removal Can Be Coded Several Ways

Question: I've been told that lipoma removals are always coded from the musculoskeletal system portion of CPT (20000-series codes). Is this correct? Massachusetts SubscriberAnswer: Few things in coding are absolute, and that applies in this instance as well. Lipomas are benign (noncancerous) tumors made up of fat cells, which commonly occur under the skin and are easily removed. Appropriate coding for lipoma removal depends on location. For example, if the lipoma is primarily a skin lesion, you should choose an appropriate code from the "Excision-Benign Lesions" (11400-11471) or "Repair-Complex" (13100-13160) portions of CPT, depending on the extent of the...

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