tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2005 Issue 8

4 Rules to Follow to Make the Best of Breast Procedures

'Lumpectomy' is a general term, so proceed with caution when choosing excision/mastectomy codes During breast procedures, if the surgeon removes a lesion along with a significant portion of surrounding tissue, you should choose a partial mastectomy code. If the surgeon removes only the lesion and a small portion of surrounding tissue, an excision code is probably more appropriate. Here are four rules that can help guide you through the decision process: Rule 1: Consider Intent to Obtain Margins As a general guideline, if the surgeon removes a breast lesion along with a margin of healthy tissue, you can...

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