Immediate Versus Delayed Breast Reconstruction with Permanent Implant

After a mastectomy, breast implants are the most common choice for reconstruction. Implants are made of a silicone shell filled with either saline or silicone gel. During implant reconstruction an implant is inserted either under or over the chest (pectoral) muscle.  

Subglandular implant (in front of pectoral muscle). Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

Subpectoral implant (under pectoral muscle). Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

 

In order to assign the appropriate CPT code for breast reconstruction with permanent implant following a mastectomy, the coder must first determine if the placement of the implant is immediate or delayed. 

Immediate Insertion

When the initial permanent breast implant is inserted immediately following the mastectomy (during the same operative session), code 19340 would be used. Immediate insertion also means that the patient did not require a tissue expander as part of a staged reconstruction. In other words, if the patient has had a tissue expander, immediate insertion of breast prosthesis, 19340 will NOT be assigned because the permanent implant insertion was not performed immediately after the mastectomy.

Code 19340 would also be used when a breast implant that was inserted after a mastectomy is later replaced with a new implant. The reasoning is that there was no delay in initial implant reconstruction following the mastectomy. No code would be assigned for removal of the existing implant as this is integral to the replacement. “Once immediate, always immediate”

19340

Immediate insertion of breast prosthesis following mastopexy, mastectomy or in reconstruction

Delayed Insertion

When the initial permanent breast implant is not inserted immediately following the mastectomy, but at some later date, this represents a delayed insertion.  A delayed insertion of a permanent breast implant is assigned code 19342.

19342

Delayed insertion of breast prosthesis following mastopexy, mastectomy or in reconstruction

A permanent implant placed after use of a tissue expander is always going to be a delayed insertion because it was not done immediately following the mastectomy. This is considered a staged reconstruction – stage one is the tissue expander, stage two is exchange for a permanent implant. This exchange is coded as 11970 and not to 19342. This code will include any minor adjustments to the capsule and other structures in order to facilitate placement of the implant.

11970

Replacement of tissue expander with permanent prosthesis

Once a tissue expander or permanent breast implant is in place, fibrous scar tissue forms around it, creating a tissue capsule. The body forms a protective capsule like this around any object it recognizes as foreign. The tissue capsule is usually soft or slightly firm, not noticeable, and helps to keep the expander or implant in place. In some women, a capsule forms that is unusually hard and dense. The capsule tightens around and squeezes the expander or implant. This condition, called capsular contracture, can cause chronic pain and distortion in the shape of the breast, and it can make the breast rise higher on the chest.

There are two procedures that may be performed on this capsule – capsulectomy or capsulotomy.

Capsulectomy – Removal or all or part of the thickened capsule of scar tissue around a breast implant.

Capsulotomy – Making incisions into the breast pocket or capsule to release scar tissue or to increase the dimensions of the pocket to accommodate a larger sized implant.

During an exchange of a tissue expander for a permanent breast implant, some minor adjustments to the capsule are expected.  Code 19342 is used when the tissue expander exchange requires additional work over and above the minor adjustments to the capsule included in CPT code 11970.

Examples of documentation that coders will want to look for to support code 19342 include:

*thick or tight capsule requiring multiple radial incisions for capsulotomy

*complete, considerable, or extensive capsulectomy

Using code 19342 will account for the additional work performed by the surgeon.  A separate code is not assigned for capsulectomy or capsulotomy.  Code 11970 would not be assigned as this would be included in code 19342.

Code 19342 may also be assigned in a case where the patient is undergoing replacement of a breast implant that was originally a delayed insertion. The reasoning is that since there was a delay in the initial implant reconstruction following the mastectomy, any subsequent implant replacement would also be delayed. “Once delayed, always delayed”

No code would be assigned for removal of the existing implant as this is integral to the replacement.

Want to learn more? Purchase our CPT Coding for Breast Reconstruction eBook.

References:
CPT Assistant, January 2013, Volume 23, Issue 1, page 15
CPT Assistant, August 2005, Volume 15, Issue 8, pages 1-3
CPT Assistant, August 1996, Volume 08, Issue 6, page 8
aapc.com/blog/27083-tissue-expansion-after-mastectomy/