Advanced Search

Radiology Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Thrombin Injection

Published on Thu Feb 01, 2001

Question: How do I code a thrombin injection for a pseudoaneurysm of the lower extremity? Would it be appropriate to assign CPT 36299 with the report attached?

Montana Subscriber

Answer: There is no code specific to this service. Therefore it would be correct to code this procedure with either the unlisted vascular injection code (36299) or 35141-52 (direct repair of aneurysm, false aneurysm, or excision [partial or total] and graft insertion, with or without patch graft; for aneurysm, false aneurysm, and associated occlusive disease, common femoral artery [profunda femoris, superficial femoral] - reduced services).

Either of these codes should be reported with the imaging guidance technique used, typically ultrasound 76942 (ultrasonic guidance for needle placement [e.g., biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device], imaging supervision and interpretation). A new code for percutaneous treatment of extremity artery pseudo-
aneurysms will be available in 2002.
You’ve reached your limit of free articles. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Not a subscriber? Subscribe today to continue reading this article. Plus, you’ll get:
  • Simple explanations of current healthcare regulations and payer programs
  • Real-world reporting scenarios solved by our expert coders
  • Industry news, such as MAC and RAC activities, the OIG Work Plan, and CERT reports
  • Instant access to every article ever published in your eNewsletter
  • 6 annual AAPC-approved CEUs*
  • The latest updates for CPT®, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, NCCI edits, modifiers, compliance, technology, practice management, and more
*CEUs available with select eNewsletters.

Other Articles in this issue of

Radiology Coding Alert

View All