1. Procedure and CPT® Code Selection:
The patient underwent a thyroidectomy for malignancy in the right lobe, as well as the removal of the parathyroid gland due to a suspected malignant lesion.
CPT® Code 60505 is for the parathyroidectomy with exploration of parathyroid glands and is appropriate for the removal of the parathyroid gland due to a suspected malignancy.
CPT® Code 60220 represents a thyroid lobectomy (total removal of one lobe of the thyroid), which applies to the removal of the right thyroid lobe in this case.
2. Modifier 59:
Modifier 59 is added to 60220 to indicate that the thyroid lobectomy is a distinct procedure from the parathyroidectomy, performed in a separate anatomical site during the same surgical session.
3. Rationale for Excluding Other Options:
Code 60500 (in options A and C) is for a parathyroid exploration only, not including the actual removal of the parathyroid gland, so it does not apply here.
Code 60240 (in option D) is for a total thyroidectomy, which involves removal of the entire thyroid gland. Since only the right lobe was removed, 60220 (thyroid lobectomy) is correct.
4. AAPC and CPT® Coding Guidelines:
Per AAPC guidelines, 60505 is the appropriate code for parathyroidectomy procedures involving exploration or suspected malignancy, and 60220 with Modifier 59 accurately reflects the separate and distinct thyroid lobectomy procedure.
Thus, the correct answer is B. 60505, 60220-59.
