Wiki Needle drainage of peritonsillar abscess cpt

[wynonna]

Surgeon uses an 18 gauge needle and aspirates 3 ml of frank pus. Topical anesthesia is used and patient undergoes procedure in the Emergency room.
Several passes were made. Pus was obtained and sent for culture.
Would this be 42700 because of the size of the needle, or another CPT?
thank you

 

[maebelle@gmail.com]

Since it doesn't mention an actual incision but instead mentions aspiration, I would use 10021.

 

[wynonna]

I'm also considering 10160 for Puncture aspiration of abscess.

 

[such78]

I would go with 10160 for puncture aspiration.

 

[riverloverjen38@yahoo.com]

I am wondering the exact question. Google says to use 10021 while others say to use 10160. Very confusing.

 

[maebelle@gmail.com]

I have always used 10021 for aspiration of a tonsil abscess because that's what my research (google) pointed me towards, but after looking into this more, I think 10160 is probably more appropriate. CPT 10021 is for a FNA biopsy, whereas CPT 10160 is just for an aspiration. So if you are doing an FNA for cytologic eval, code 10021 should be used, but if just aspirating fluid, code 10160 should be used.

 

[wynonna]

thank you!