Reader Question: Base Lesion Coding Size on Surgeon's Measurement
Question: Our surgeon removed three skin lesions from a patient’s back and neck. I’m trying to figure out what codes to use now that I have the pathology report back. It states, “The largest segment measures 3.5 x 3.5 x 2.0 cm. A second fragment measures 3.0 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm and then in aggregate, the smaller fragments measure 3.5 x 3.0 x 2.0cm.”
Louisiana Subscriber
Answer: You should not code the surgeon’s skin lesion excision solely from the pathology report.
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