tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2022 Issue Q1

Reader Questions: Distinguish ‘Total’ or ‘Lobectomy’ for Thyroid Case

Question: Our surgeon performed a left substernal thyroid lobectomy by cervical approach. Should we report 60271, which lists substernal thyroid in the code descriptor? Oklahoma Subscriber Answer: No, code 60271 (Thyroidectomy, including substernal thyroid; cervical approach) is appropriate only for a total thyroidectomy, not a thyroid lobectomy that removes only part of the thyroid. You should instead turn to the appropriate code for thyroid lobectomy, 60220 (Total thyroid lobectomy, unilateral; with or without isthmusectomy). Here’s why: Code 60220 does not specify nor restrict the approach to cervical, and it is the only open thyroid excision code for removal...

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