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Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Examine Listed Specimen Choices

Published on Sun Aug 19, 2007

Question: The pathology report lists a specimen as a diverticulum of the small intestine. Should we code this the same as a small intestine biopsy? Iowa Subscriber Answer: No, a small intestine diverticulum and biopsy are not the same specimen, and you should not use the same code to report the pathologist's examination. A diverticulum is a pouch or sac that branches off an organ such as the intestine, often caused by a hernia. CPT lists several specimens for small intestine in the surgical pathology section to describe "Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination": - 88304 -- Diverticulum -- esophagus/small intestine - 88305 -- Small intestine, biopsy - 88305 -- Polyp, stomach/small intestine - 88305 -- Duodenum, biopsy - 88307 -- Small intestine, resection, other than for tumor - 88309 -- Small intestine, resection for tumor. You should code your pathologist's work as 88304 for the diverticulum rather than 88305 for a biopsy exam.
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