tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 8

Sentinel Node Biopsy and Lymphadenectomy Differ

More and more frequently, surgeons are forgoing lymph node excision (38745 by itself or 19162 with partial mastectomy) in favor of sentinel node biopsy, which you should report separately using 38500-38530, depending on the depth and location of the node.Sentinel lymph node biopsy "allows sampling of the lymph node or nodes that receive drainage directly from  a tumor or an area of carcinoma," according to Medicare guidelines. In other words, such biopsies allow the surgeon to determine whether a cancer has spread to the most likely lymphatic drainage area or if it is contained  at the primary...

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