tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2014 Issue 4

Reader Question: 19301 Depends on Margins

Question:  For a patient diagnosed with breast cancer, the surgeon identified the procedure as “wide local excision” of tumor identified by radiological marker placed preoperatively. The operative note states, “special attention was paid to ensure adequate margins.” Is this a breast lesion excision or lumpectomy? Michigan Subscriber Answer:  The best code choice for the procedure you describe is 19301 (Mastectomy, partial [e.g., lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, segmentectomy]). Although the surgeon describes the procedure as a lesion excision, two pieces of information identify this as a lumpectomy: The surgeon describes “wide local excision,&rdquo...

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