Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Distinguish hormonal or pre-malignant hyperplasia with expanded 621.3. In with the new, but not out with the old -- that's how you'll have to use 2010 ICD-9 changes to interpret your endometrium pathology reports. "Although many pathologists have moved to a two-level endometrial classification that distinguishes benign estrogen-induced changes from emergent pre-cancerous lesions, some pathologists persist with the older, four-tier descriptive hyperplasia classification," says Melanie Witt, RN, CPC, COBGC, MA, a coding expert based in Guadalupita, N.M. That's why ICD-9 2010 adds two new codes -- and keeps four old codes -- under 621.3 (Endometrial hyperplasia). Use the following guidelines to help you get your 621.3x coding right -- every time. Assorted Adjectives and 'Atypia' Signal Older Codes Since 2005, coders have had the following four codes to describe endometrial hyperplasia: • 621.30 -- Endometrial hyperplasia, unspecified • 621.31 -- Simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia • 621.32 -- Complex endometrial hyperplasia without atypia • 621.33 -- Endometrial hyperplasia [...]