Wiki skin lesion vs lipoma

[bluebird301@gmail.com]

Some guidance please; Below is the procedure, which I have coded as 25071, but another coder feels this shoul be coded to 11403;, ;benign skin lesion with intermediate repair, 12031. Pathology returned as "lipoma".

Op report reads:
"The mass at the right dorsal proximal forearm was approached. An incision was made roughly 2.5 cm in length
overlying this mass. Blunt dissection was taken down through subcutaneous tissues, at which point a well-defined
fatty mass measuring 3 cm in length by 2 cm in width was encountered in the subcutaneous tissues immediate
superficial to the deep fascia of the forearm. This mass was excised without issue and sent to pathology. The
wound was copiously irrigated and closed with buried 3-0 Monocryl dermal stitches as well as running 4-0
Monocryl subcuticular stitch. The wound was dressed with Mastisol 0.5 inch Steri-Strips and a soft sterile dressing
applied.
Tourniquet was released with brisk capillary refill in the right hand."

Thank you in advance

 

[AB87]

Seems like 25071 because it says Deep fascia was excised

 

[shankara]

12042

I guess 12042

 

[FTessaBartels]

25071

No GUESSING about it .... this should be coded from the musculoskeletal section. A lipoma is NOT a skin lesion.

Hope that helps.

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC

 

[MarcusM]

A lipoma is a growth of fat cells in a thin, fibrous capsule usually found just below the skin. Lipomas are found most often on the torso, neck, upper thighs, upper arms, and armpits, but they can occur almost anywhere in the body. One or more lipomas may be present at the same time. Lipomas are the most common noncancerous soft tissue growth.

A skin lesion is a part of the skin that has an abnormal growth or appearance compared to the skin around it.