The August 2005 edition of the CPT Assistant (page 2) included the reporting of temporary tissue expander replacement, as excerpted: If a temporary tissue expander has been used, it is removed after the skin has stretched sufficiently and is replaced with a permanent breast prosthesis during a second operation. This procedure is generally coded [with code] 11970 , Replacement of tissue expander with permanent prosthesis. Code 11970 is a global service and includes removal of the temporary expander, which is not to be reported separately. In certain instances, considerable capsular adjustments are necessary to allow proper placement of the prosthesis within the fibrous capsule that has formed around the expander, and with appropriate documentation in the operative report, code 19342 is sometimes used instead of 11970 . Would the reference to the considerable capsular adjustments involve capsulotomy or capsulectomy for which code 11970 may be reported in addition to code 19371 , Periprosthetic capsulectomy, breast? ...
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Article Overview
This article addresses a CPT Assistant discussion of breast reconstruction coding in the context of temporary tissue expander replacement and related operative work. It is aimed at coding professionals and others responsible for CPT-based surgical reporting who need to understand the scope of the guidance and the types of procedure distinctions discussed in the article.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers recognize when the article is focused on distinctions between routine expander replacement and additional operative work described in the source discussion.
Article Sections
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Temporary tissue expander replacement and capsule management
Discusses the scenario of replacing a temporary expander with a permanent breast prosthesis and the broader category of operative considerations involving the surrounding capsule. The section centers on CPT Assistant guidance for surgical reporting in breast reconstruction.
What You Will Learn
- The general CPT Assistant topic addressed in the article
- How the article frames breast reconstruction reporting issues
- The kinds of operative considerations discussed in relation to expander replacement
- The context in which additional surgical work is distinguished from routine replacement
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Plastic surgery billing staff
- Physician documentation staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
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