skin biopsy question

How would you code (besides 11100-11101) an incisional biopsy (elipse of tissue) of a subcutaneous mass on the chest for pathology?

Jul 29th, 2014 -

re: skin biopsy question

did you look at code 21550, biopsy soft tisue of neck or thorax.
per the coder's desk reference the physician makes an incision over the site and dissections taken down to the subcutaneous fat or further into the fascia or muscle to reach the lesion. a portion of the tissue mas is excised and submitted for pathology. hope this helps:)

Jul 30th, 2014 - npott1 9

re: skin biopsy question

Thank you, that is what I needed!

Jul 31st, 2014 - Codapedia Editor 1,399

re: skin biopsy question

Look at the skin excision codes as well: if it is a skin lesion use 1140X or 1160X series of codes.

Here's an article:

http://codapedia.com/article_56_Minor-Surgical-Procedures.cfm