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Radiology Coding Alert

Case Study:

7372x: Dig Into the Explanation Behind These MRI Code Choices

Published on Fri Sep 02, 2011

See how all the 'suggested' diagnoses affect your ICD-9 options. To help keep your coding in tip-top shape, read through the real-life report excerpt below, and then explore the "why" behind the codes you should and shouldn't choose. Knock Out This Knee Scenario Examination: MRI Left Knee. No contrast. Clinical history: Pain after wrestling for 1 month. Patient has posterior knee pain with extreme flexion. Evaluate for ACL tear. Technique: Standard, unenhanced imaging of the left knee. Comparison: Radiographs from ... Orthopedic Clinic dated ... Findings Medial compartment: The medial meniscus is intact. The medial collateral ligament is unremarkable. Articular cartilage at the medial tibiofemoral compartment is preserved. There is mild insertional semimembranosus tendinosis, and some edema is noted tracking along the deep aspects of the gracilis and semitendinosus tendons. A trace amount of edema at the medial gastrocnemius origin suggests strain. Lateral compartment: The lateral meniscus demonstrates extension of [...]
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