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Pancreatic adenocarcinoma 35221 with 48150

Date: Dec 19, 2022

Question:

This patient had a Whipple procedure for a pancreatic malignant tumor. The tumor involved the superior mesenteric vein. The doctors are saying that because the tumor encased the SMV, they should charge 35221 in addition to 48150 because after they excised the tumor, they resected and subsequently repaired the SMV. Is this correct, or is this a component of 48150? I hope you can help since 35221 is vascular even though 48150 is not.

Question ID : 18122
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