Wiki Chronic sinusitis vs Pansinusitis

[ywilliamsCPC]

When the doctor dictates that a patient has chronic sinusitis in all cavities (maxillary, frontal, sphenoid and ethmoid) and lists them individually (chronic sinusitis, frontal . . . chronic sinusitis, maxillary etc), do I code them individually (J32.0 J32.1 J32.2 J32.2) or can I use the chronic pansinusitis code (J32.4)?

 

[lmeadows]

I use the J diagnosis codes unless he specifically stated that it is pansinusitis.

 

[ehanna]

When the doctor dictates that a patient has chronic sinusitis in all cavities (maxillary, frontal, sphenoid and ethmoid) and lists them individually (chronic sinusitis, frontal . . . chronic sinusitis, maxillary etc), do I code them individually (J32.0 J32.1 J32.2 J32.2) or can I use the chronic pansinusitis code (J32.4)?

I personally would code the pansinusitis since all sinuses are involved.

 

[nalaxu]

When the doctor dictates that a patient has chronic sinusitis in all cavities (maxillary, frontal, sphenoid and ethmoid) and lists them individually (chronic sinusitis, frontal . . . chronic sinusitis, maxillary etc), do I code them individually (J32.0 J32.1 J32.2 J32.2) or can I use the chronic pansinusitis code (J32.4)?

I was looking for documentation concerning this. I was coding this as pansinusitis and got dinged on an audit. I was told if the doctor doesn't specifiy pan you can't code it. I disagree but can't find anything either way about this.

 

[lmeadows]

For more than one sinus having chronic sinusitis I use J32.8. I don't use J32.4 unless they specify its pansinusitis.

 

[mitchellde]

the provider does not need to state the word pansinusitis if he/she has documented every sinus as having sinusitis. The difienition of pansinsitis is an inflammation of every sinus on one or both sides. So if all are documented I would code pansinusitis.