CPT^® 42720, Under Incision Procedures on the Pharynx, Adenoids, and Tonsils

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) code 42720 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Incision Procedures on the Pharynx, Adenoids, and Tonsils.

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Summary

The provider makes an incision to drain a retropharyngeal abscess in the throat or a parapharyngeal abscess deep in the neck. He approaches the abscess through the mouth.

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MODIFIERS
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Need CPT for throat surgeries starting with laryngoscopy/bx and I&D with 2 follow up visits on separate days for bleed in pharynx and additional bx

Day One: 42720 for I&D abscess, 31536-51 Microdirect Laryngoscopy If doc uses a scope) along with Later on Day One: 42960/42961 for oropharyngeal hemorrhage. (Add modifier 78) Day Two: 42962-78 Cont... [ Read More ]

Need Help with parapharyngeal abscess!

[QUOTE="jackjones62, post: 464933, member: 15557"] Regardless that no abscess was found or pus expressed your physician did perform the intended surgery due to the obvious swelling and the clinical in... [ Read More ]

Need Help with parapharyngeal abscess!

Regardless that no abscess was found or pus expressed your physician did perform the intended surgery due to the obvious swelling and the clinical indicators. This is one of the gray coding moments an... [ Read More ]

Need Help with parapharyngeal abscess! abscess drainage incision incision and drainage parapharyngeal abscess

Doctor said he did a procedure for incision and drainage of parapharyngeal abscess. But in the procedure details it says there was no drainage and no abscess found. Below is the op report: Procedure:... [ Read More ]

Tonsil mass

I have a physician who did and I & D of a left tonsil abscess (not peritonsillar) and a open biopsy of the left tonsil mass. I am thinking that for the I & D use cpt 42720 and the biopsy use 42800. ... [ Read More ]

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