CPT^® 42890, Under Excision and Destruction Procedures on the Pharynx, Adenoids, and Tonsils

The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®) code 42890 as maintained by American Medical Association, is a medical procedural code under the range - Excision and Destruction Procedures on the Pharynx, Adenoids, and Tonsils.

Additional/Related Information

Tabs

Summary

During this procedure, the provider removes part of the pharyngeal wall, which can include removal of part of the thyroid ala, hyoid bone, and wall of the piriform fossa.

For clinical responsibility, terminology, tips and additional info
start codify free trial.

View any code changes for 2026 as well as historical information on code creation and revision.

Crosswalks

Tabs

MODIFIERS
ICD-10-CM

Combat the #1 denial reason - mismatched CPT-ICD-9 codes - with top Medicare carrier and private payer accepted diagnoses for the chosen CPT® code.

View the CPT® code's corresponding procedural code and DRG. In a click, check the DRG's IPPS allowable, length of stay, and more. To plug inpatient facility revenue drains, subscribe to DRG Coder today.

Crosswalk to an anesthesia code and its base units, and calculate payments in a snap! Subscribe to Anesthesia Coder today.

View matching HCPCS Level II codes and their definitions.

Forum

Have a question about CPT Code 42890 ? Start a discussion here

lateral pharyngectomy without closure

I am struggling finding the approprate code for a lateral pharyngectomy without closure. I jumped to 42890. However, the surgeons apporach was oral and not through the neck. OP Note: "I did initial... [ Read More ]

Lesion removal from parapharyngeal space via mandibulotomy and neck incision

The doctor removed a lesion from the parapharyngeal space near the base of the skull via neck incision and mandibleostomy, the coder coded 42890 for partial pharyngectomy and 21198 for osteotomy of ma... [ Read More ]

please read op note-would cpt code 42890 be inclusive or can it be billed separately.

OPERATIONS PERFORMED: 1. Transoral robotic assisted base of tongue resection, CPT 41130. 2. Limited right lateral pharyngectomy, CPT 42890. DESCRIPTION OF PROCEDURE: The patient was identified in the... [ Read More ]

Oropharynx carcinoma resection

Please see procedure list below (I'm hoping this will be enough - the op report is PDF format only) 1. Tracheostomy 2. Right radical neck dissection 3. Right composite resection of oropharynx includi... [ Read More ]

Robotic (Da Vinci) surgery ENT

I have a surgeon who is performing a 42890 (Limited pharyngectomy) using the Da Vinci system. My question is he would like to bill for this as normal, however the code states that a “neck incision ... [ Read More ]

My Credentials

[QUOTE="Kathyrod, post: 42890, member: 6377"]Congratulations! That's great. Can you tell me what steps you took to get the A off? I have a letter from my instructor at the community college & my offi... [ Read More ]

View All