Radiology Question for the Week of January 11, 2021

Question:

Do you have any tips on new biopsy code 32408?

Answer:

Code 32408 describes a percutaneous core needle biopsy of the lung or mediastinum and will replace code 32405. Imaging guidance of any modality is included in 32408, therefore codes 76942, 77002, 77012, or 77021 should not be reported in addition to 32408. If more than one modality of imaging guidance is used for a lung or mediastinum percutaneous biopsy,
all are included in 32408. If percutaneous core biopsies are performed on separate lesions within the lungs or mediastinum, report 32408 for each separately with modifier 59. If a core biopsy of the lung or mediastinum is performed at the same session as a core biopsy with imaging guidance of a separate anatomic location, the imaging guidance for the biopsy of the separate site would be reported with modifier 59. As an example, if a biopsy of an abdominal lesion biopsied under ultrasound guidance is performed at the same session as a lung biopsy performed with any type of imaging guidance, report 32408 plus 49180 and 76942-59

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