Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Question: One of our patients was diagnosed with Eagle's Syndrome. How should I code for this condition and its treatment?Vermont SubscriberAnswer: If a patient complains of a recurrent pain in the oropharynx and face, and upon examination the physician finds out the pain is due to an elongated styloid process or calcified stylohyoid ligament, the patient likely suffers from Eagle's syndrome. Treatment of this condition usually consists of surgically shortening the styloid process.What is: The styloid process is a slender outgrowth at the base of the temporal bone, immediately posterior to the mastoid apex.Since no specific ICD-9 code for the syndrome exists, you would be best coding for symptoms presented by the patient. Symptoms include: facial pain (784.0), throat pain (784.1), neck pain (723.1) and dysphasia (784.5). Other options may be trigeminal neuralgia (350.1) or other disorders of muscle, ligament and fascia (728.89).Extra: Use 21499 (Unlisted musculoskeletal procedure, head) when [...]