Ask a Rev Cycle Expert: Code for Punch Biopsy of the Tongue?
Question:
We have a patient who had a punch biopsy of the tongue performed. What is the appropriate code to use for this procedure? We did find 41105 and 41100 in the code book but it states procedure is done by incision. Is a punch method acceptable for these codes? If not, please advise what we should use.
Answer:
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes 41100, Biopsy of tongue; anterior two-thirds, and 41105, Biopsy of tongue; posterior one-third, do not specify a particular methodology for the biopsy. CPT coding instructions state that the listing of a service or procedure in a specific section of the book does not strictly classify the procedure. The guidelines further state that methodology does not need to be considered unless a specific methodology is listed within the code description or the official coding instructions. Although this procedure is typically performed using incision, nothing in the code description nor in the official coding guidelines prohibit using a bunch to obtain the biopsy.
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