A patient with chronic sinus pain and swelling presented to the office for a diagnostic endoscopy of the nasal sinuses. During the procedure, the surgeon excised two polyps on the left sphenoid sinus. What is the correct code for this procedure?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct code for this procedure is 31237 (Nasal/Sinus Endoscopy, Surgical; with Biopsy, Polypectomy or Debridement). Code 31235 describes only a diagnostic endoscopy, which would have been the case had the physician not excised the polyps. The diagnostic endoscopy was converted to a surgical endoscopy; therefore the only code that needs to be included on the claim is the surgical endoscopy, which in this case is 31237. Code 31231 only codes for a diagnostic endoscopy, not surgical.

A Patient with Chronic Sinus Pain and Swelling Presented to the Office