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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Lymph Node Bundling

Published on Fri Nov 01, 2002

Question: If we receive iliac and obturator nodes submitted as separate left and right specimens, can we report CPT 88307 for the left and 88307 for the right? Nebraska Subscriber Answer: Yes, if separately identified, the left and right iliac nodes represent two individual regional lymph node resections from two different anatomic sites. The pathologist provides individual examination and diagnosis, and reports two units of 88307 (Level V Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, lymph nodes, regional resection). This scenario is not unusual because surgeons sometimes submit left and right iliac lymph nodes with a prostate resection. Although regional lymph nodes are bundled with some surgical pathology specimens such as a radical mastectomy, they are not bundled with a prostatectomy.
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