© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
The CPT® Code 88333 refers to a pathology consultation performed during surgery, specifically involving a cytologic examination at the initial site of tissue sampling. This procedure is crucial for surgeons who require immediate information regarding the presence or absence of disease, particularly malignancy, while the patient is still undergoing surgery. The pathologist conducts this examination at the request of the surgeon, utilizing techniques such as touch preparation and squash preparation to obtain cellular samples from the tissue. In the touch preparation method, the margin of the tissue sample is directly touched against a glass slide, allowing cells to adhere to the slide. This slide is then air-dried, stained, and examined microscopically to assess cellular characteristics. Alternatively, the squash preparation technique involves slicing a small portion of the tissue specimen and placing it on a slide, where it is then crushed with another slide to create a thin film. This specimen is also fixed, stained, and analyzed under a microscope. The pathologist provides an initial verbal report of the findings, which includes critical information about the presence of abnormal or malignant cells, as well as any other significant features of the cell sample. A formal written report is subsequently generated and included in the patient's medical record. For examinations of cells from the initial site, the appropriate code to use is 88333, while 88334 should be used for examinations of cells from any additional sites.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The procedure associated with CPT® Code 88333 is indicated in various clinical scenarios where immediate cytological evaluation is necessary. The following conditions may warrant the use of this procedure:
The procedure for CPT® Code 88333 involves several critical steps to ensure accurate cytologic evaluation during surgery. The following outlines the procedural steps:
Post-procedure care following the cytologic examination under CPT® Code 88333 typically involves monitoring the patient for any immediate complications related to the surgical procedure. The surgeon may discuss the findings of the cytologic examination with the patient, particularly if any abnormal or malignant cells were identified. The written report generated by the pathologist will be reviewed in subsequent follow-up appointments to determine any further treatment or intervention needed based on the results. Additionally, the surgical team may plan additional diagnostic or therapeutic procedures if malignancy is confirmed or if further evaluation is warranted.
| Short Descr | PATH CONSLTJ SURG CYTO XM 1 | Medium Descr | PATH CONSLTJ SURG CYTOLOGIC EXAM INITIAL SITE | Long Descr | Pathology consultation during surgery; cytologic examination (eg, touch prep, squash prep), initial site | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | XXX - Global Concept Does Not Apply | PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) | 1 - Diagnostic Tests for Radiology Services | Multiple Procedures (51) | 0 - No payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply. | Bilateral Surgery (50) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | Physician Supervisions | 09 - Concept does not apply. | Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) | 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Team Surgery (66) | 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure. | Diagnostic Imaging Family | 99 - Concept Does Not Apply | APC Status Indicator | T-Packaged Codes | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | T1G - Lab tests - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 4 | CCS Clinical Classification | 234 - Pathology |
This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.
| 0843T | Add On Code Resequenced Code MPFS Status: Carrier Priced APC N Digitization of glass microscope slides for pathology consultation during surgery; cytologic examination (eg, touch preparation, squash preparation), initial site (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | 88334 | Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Pathology consultation during surgery; cytologic examination (eg, touch prep, squash prep), each additional site (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) |
| 26 | Professional component: certain procedures are a combination of a physician or other qualified health care professional component and a technical component. when the physician or other qualified health care professional component is reported separately, the service may be identified by adding modifier 26 to the usual procedure number. | 59 | Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25. | XU | Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | X5 | Diagnostic services requested by another clinician: for reporting services by a clinician who furnishes care to the patient only as requested by another clinician or subsequent and related services requested by another clinician; this modifier is reported for patient relationships that may not be adequately captured by the above alternative categories; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the radiologist's interpretation of an imaging study requested by another clinician | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 76 | Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | TC | Technical component; under certain circumstances, a charge may be made for the technical component alone; under those circumstances the technical component charge is identified by adding modifier 'tc' to the usual procedure number; technical component charges are institutional charges and not billed separately by physicians; however, portable x-ray suppliers only bill for technical component and should utilize modifier tc; the charge data from portable x-ray suppliers will then be used to build customary and prevailing profiles | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | Q6 | Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | Q5 | Service furnished under a reciprocal billing arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service. | 90 | Reference (outside) laboratory: when laboratory procedures are performed by a party other than the treating or reporting physician or other qualified health care professional, the procedure may be identified by adding modifier 90 to the usual procedure number. | 91 | Repeat clinical diagnostic laboratory test: in the course of treatment of the patient, it may be necessary to repeat the same laboratory test on the same day to obtain subsequent (multiple) test results. under these circumstances, the laboratory test performed can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 91. note: this modifier may not be used when tests are rerun to confirm initial results; due to testing problems with specimens or equipment; or for any other reason when a normal, one-time, reportable result is all that is required. this modifier may not be used when other code(s) describe a series of test results (eg, glucose tolerance tests, evocative/suppression testing). this modifier may only be used for laboratory test(s) performed more than once on the same day on the same patient. | GV | Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | GZ | Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary | PC | Wrong surgery or other invasive procedure on patient | PD | Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days | Q0 | Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | QJ | Services/items provided to a prisoner or patient in state or local custody, however the state or local government, as applicable, meets the requirements in 42 cfr 411.4 (b) |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-01 | Changed | Short Description changed. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2006-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2006. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.