� Bipolar cautery (45384), which differs from other electrosurgery in that the

electrical cur�
rent flows from one jaw of the forcep through the tissue to the other jaw of the
forcep .

� Snare technique (45385), in which a snare, or wire loop, slips over, or "lassos,"
the
polyp. The stalk of the polyp is cauterized. The polyp then can be recovered in the
snare
itself, in a basket/net device attached to the nare, or with the aid of a suction
device.
This is the most successful technique in treating pedunculated polyps, mid ize
polyp,
or large sessile polyps.

� Cold biop y forcep technique (45380), which uses no electrocoagulation. The polyp

i physicaJly pulled from the wall of the colon.

� La er technique (45388), which is commonly used for palliative treatment in

patients who
have already been diagno ed with a malignancy. Lesions of the rectum are more
suitable for
treatment with lasers than are lesions of the proximal colon. A device called a
waveguide
is u ed to deliver the laser beam through the cope to the area of treatment. A
neodymium
yttrium aluminum gamet (Nd: YAG) laser is u ed most commonly in the United States.

Lips

or repairs of the lip, the documentation hould reflect the vertical height of the
lip repair. For
cleft lip/na al deformity procedure ,the upporting documentation hould reflect
whether the
procedure is primary or secondary and whether a one- or two-stage procedure wa
performed.

Tongue and Floor of Mouth

CPT codes for procedures on the tongue and floor of the mouth include inci ion and
drainage
of absces , cy t, or hematomas, and repair of laceration . Excision of a Ie ion of
the tongue is
coded based on its location (posterior one-third or anterior two-thirds) on the
tongue. When
glos ectomy (excision of tongue) is performed, it i important to note whether
complete or
partial exci ion was performed.

Dentoalveo

Structures

For dentoalveolar structure, it should be noted that the CPT code book does not
include codes
for pulling teeth because this procedure is considered a dental procedure and not a
medical
procedure. The American Dental Association copyrights and maintain a coding y tern
in Cur�
rent Dental Terminology (CDT 2017) that i u ed in reporting dental procedure . See
chapter 8
for an additional discussion on CDT codes.

Only a small number of codes are available in the CPT code book for dental
procedure. In
in tances when teeth are removed for a medical problem or are incidental to another
procedure
performed, the only CPT code that can be used is 41899, Unlisted procedure,
dentoalveolar
structures. Third-party payers may not recognize HCPCS Level II dental codes for
provider
other than dentists but some are requiring all dental procedures be coded with
HCPCS Level II.
Consult the third-party payer for specifics.

Pharynx, AdenOids, and Tonsils

Ton illectomy and adenoidectomy code are based on type of procedure (primary or
second�
ary) and age of the patient. Primary refer to the first time the tonsil and/or
adenoid are
removed. If the tonsils or adenoids grow back and have to be removed ubsequently,
this is