Wiki 26160 vs 26116

[adunlap23]

Second question of the day...
The surgeon removed a rheumatoid nodule (1x1cm) from the skin and flexor tendon. I'm not sure if I should report 26160 or 26116 in this case.

 

[MI_CODER]

If there isn't any documentation of the nodule being excised from the tendon sheath then I would code it as 26116. When I plug this into my 3M coding software it leads me to 26116. Below is the coding path:

Excision Of/For, Tendon Lesion or Tissue, Tenectomy Of: Hand/Finger, Excision of Tumor, Subfascial -- Less than 1.5 CM, Was Complex Repair Utilized to Close Defect? -- No/Already Coded = 26116

 

[adunlap23]

The report states that the nodule was attached to the flexor tendon.