Ask Dr. Z

Dr Z, Hello! I have a question regarding percutaneous ablation procedures. In my hospital we do RFA, Cryo, and Microwave of liver, lung and renal tissue. In your January 21, 2011 newsletter, Percutaneous Tumor and other Ablation Procedures, I found the codes I was looking for to use for soft tissue masses, 17999. I had these built in the chargemaster, but in checking the reimbrusment for this code it is not in the same category as the liver, lung and renal tissue. Is there another code for soft tissue ablation that we should be using? One example that has come up is renal cancer, the kidney was removed and now there is recurring tumor in the renal fossa. The radiologist read it as a soft tissue mass that was ablated with a microwave technology. In your book on page 395 number 7 says to use "unlisted codes for RFA of soft tissue and organs not specifically listed with a code". I think that maybe I misunderstood the newletter and that I need unlisted codes for different anatomical areas, and different procedures-RFA, Cryo and Microwave. I hope you can help. Thanks, R Mercer