tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2009 Issue 1

Reader Questions: You Can Separately Bill Sentinal Biopsy

Question: When can we code separately for sentinel node biopsy with lymphadenectomy? Will the biopsy always be included in the more extensive exicision? Alaska Subscriber Answer: You should not separately report sentinel node biopsy (38500-38530) and planned lymphadenectomy (38700-38780) in the same region during the same operative session. Instead, you should include the sentinel node biopsy in the more extensive, planned, same-location lymphadenectomy. Example: The surgeon performs a complete axillary lymphadenectomy (38745, Axillary lymphadenectomy; complete) to remove the lymph nodes between the pectoralis major and the pectoralis minor muscles. In this case, the complete lymphadenectomy automatically includes removal of...

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