Question

Dr. West performed an upper GI endoscopy where the duodenum was deliberately not examined and there is no need of a repeat examination. The appropriate CPT code would be _____.

Answer 1

The appropriate CPT code for an upper GI endoscopy where the duodenum was not examined would need to be determined by referencing the current CPT coding manual and considering the procedure as documented by Dr. West.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Dr. West performed an upper GI endoscopy and deliberately did not examine the duodenum, with no intention of a repeat examination, the appropriate CPT code to use would depend on the specific details of the procedure documented. Normally, an upper GI endoscopy includes examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. However, if the duodenum was not examined, it might be more accurate to report a code that describes an endoscopy of the esophagus and stomach only.

CPT codes range from 43200 to 43259 for different types of esophageal endoscopies, while upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures are listed under CPT codes 43235 to 43259. Since this is a highly specific coding question, to identify the exact code, one would need to reference the most current CPT coding manual, look into any specific notations or guidelines relevant to this situation, and consider the documentation that Dr. West has provided to describe the procedure.