tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2006 Issue 6

READER QUESTIONS: Global Re-Excision Calls for a Modifier

Question: The patient underwent a partial mastectomy of the left breast nearly two months ago. Because of positive margins on the pathology report, the surgeon decided to re-excise to remove additional tissue. How should we report the re-excision?Texas Subscriber Answer: Assuming that the surgeon intended to ensure adequate margins during the first excision, you should have reported that procedure using 19160 (Mastectomy, partial [e.g., lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, segmentectomy]). Because you state -partial mastectomy,- we can assume this was the case.But if the surgeon had removed only the tumor and no or very little margin, the...

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