AHA Coding Clinic® for HCPCS - 2021 Issue 3; Ask the Editor

EGD with EUS and core needle biopsy

A patient with a suspected pancreatic mass presents for an EGD with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and core needle biopsy. The upper endoscope and the linear echoendoscope were used to perform the examination and biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract and the pancreas and biliary tract. During the EUS, the pancreas was evaluated and no pancreatic mass or other abnormalities were found. A 25-gauge core needle biopsy of the pancreas was performed and core tissue was collected. There were no pancreatic abnormalities found during the endoscopic ultrasound. Is it appropriate to assign CPT code 43238 when the code descriptor states “transmural fine needle aspiration/biopsies,” and a core needle biopsy of the pancreas is performed? ...

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