title: Coding for biopsies, shave removals, and excisions.
abstract: Biopsies, shave removals, and excisions are basic procedures that dermatologists routinely perform to diagnose disease, relieve symptoms, and to treat cancers. From a coding perspective, these 3 procedures are characterized differently based on the intent and depth of the removal. Specialized biopsy codes are available for certain anatomic sites, and soft-tissue excision codes can be used in lieu of standard skin excision codes for tumors that are confined to the subcutis and below.
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: Murad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alam
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D059019:Clinical Coding; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology