Thought you'd like to see the latest.

Question 12835: Our physicians say the excision of the lymph node
is for diagnostic and staging not a surgically directed surgery so
it should be coded 02 not 25. They said most lymphoma unless
extranodal are not surgically resected.

In Reply:
We agree with your physicians that most lymphoma lymph node
excisions are for diagnosis and staging and should be coded as a
Surgical Diagnostic and Staging Procedure rather than a Surgical
Procedure of the Primary Site. The latter code is provided for
recording the less common situation when the procedure meets the
definition of an excisional biopsy.

Sincerely yours,

I & R System
American College of Surgeons
Fax: 312-202-5009
E-mail: inquiry@...