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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Path/Lab Coding:

Take This Advice to Select the Correct Tonsil Biopsy Code

Published on Fri Oct 31, 2025

Question: Can you explain the difference between 88304, 88305, and 88309 with regard to tonsil specimen biopsies? When would you use each of these codes? Georgia Subscriber Answer: The three anatomic pathology exam codes for tonsil specimens are, as you say: 88304 (Level III - Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination … Tonsil and/or adenoids …) 88305 (Level IV - [...]
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