1. Brenda Dumont
   Posted 6 months ago #
   

   What ICD9 code would I use for a regional lymph node resection biopsy for a patient w/history of testicular cancer, when the biopsy result is "benign lymph nodes with no evidence of metasis"?

2. SuperCoder
   Posted 6 months ago #
   

   V71.1,V10.47
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   The appropriate codes are written above. But, it is observed that most of the time Lab/Path codes don't get well-reimbursed with V codes when you use it because the finding is normal. Had the finding being abnormal, the codes and reimbursement would have been easier. But, just for the sake of reimbursement without sufficient documentation to reimburse abnormal findings code will be against the ethics of coding.

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   So, it is always advisable in this kind of scenario, to bill with the icd codes for the symptoms which have been billed in the recent past office visits. These have helped in a better way with the supportive logic that the reason for visits is the reason why the said lab/path has been ordered.

3. Brenda Dumont
   Posted 6 months ago #
   

   Thank you Sanjit
   I am billing for a pathologist in an independent lab. I sometimes have difficulty determining diagnosis when the result of the biopsy is normal. We often don't have symptoms from prior visits. Oftentimes, I am forced to code from the brief, several word description of the CLINICAL HISTORY. The one I am working on now says "The patient has a history of large left pleural effusion". That at least relates to the specimen, which is an aspirate for cytology.

   Again, thank you for your help.

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