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The CPT® Code 88334 refers to a pathology consultation performed during surgery, specifically focusing on cytologic examinations conducted at additional sites beyond the primary procedure. This code is utilized when a pathologist is called upon by a surgeon to assess tissue samples intraoperatively, which is crucial for determining the presence or absence of disease, including malignancies. The process involves two primary techniques: touch preparation and squash preparation. In the touch preparation method, the margin of the tissue sample is directly touched to a glass slide, allowing cells to adhere to the slide. This slide is then air-dried, stained, and examined microscopically to identify any abnormal or malignant cells. Conversely, 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 cells and other significant characteristics. A formal written report is subsequently generated and added to the patient's medical record. It is important to note that CPT® Code 88334 is listed separately in addition to the primary procedure code, which is represented by CPT® Code 88333 for the examination of cells from the initial site.
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The indications for utilizing CPT® Code 88334 include the need for intraoperative cytologic examination to assess tissue samples for the presence of disease or malignancy. This procedure is typically performed when a surgeon requires immediate pathological evaluation to make informed decisions during surgery. The following conditions may warrant the use of this code:
The procedure for CPT® Code 88334 involves specific steps to ensure accurate cytologic examination of additional tissue sites during surgery. The following procedural steps are outlined:
After the cytologic examination is completed, the pathologist provides an initial verbal report to the surgeon, detailing the findings regarding the presence or absence of abnormal or malignant cells. This immediate feedback is critical for guiding surgical decisions. Following the verbal report, a comprehensive written report is generated, which includes all relevant findings and is placed in the patient's medical record for future reference. The pathologist's findings may influence further surgical intervention or treatment plans based on the results of the cytologic examination.
| Short Descr | PATH CONSLTJ SURG CYTO XM EA | Medium Descr | PATH CONSLTJ SURG CYTOLOGIC EXAM EACH ADDL SITE | Long Descr | Pathology consultation during surgery; cytologic examination (eg, touch prep, squash prep), each additional site (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) | Status Code | Active Code | Global Days | ZZZ - Code Related to Another Service | 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 | Items and Services Packaged into APC Rates | Type of Service (TOS) | 5 - Diagnostic Laboratory | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | T1G - Lab tests - other (Medicare fee schedule) | MUE | 5 | CCS Clinical Classification | 234 - Pathology |
This is an add-on code that must be used in conjunction with one of these primary codes.
| 88331 | MPFS Status: Active Code APC Q1 PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Pathology consultation during surgery; first tissue block, with frozen section(s), single specimen | 88333 | MPFS Status: Active Code APC Q2 PUB 100 CPT Assistant Article Pathology consultation during surgery; cytologic examination (eg, touch prep, squash prep), initial site | 0844T | 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), 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 | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | XE | Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter | 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 | Q1 | Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 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 | AQ | Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa) | 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 | 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. | 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. | Q0 | Investigational clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study | 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 | XP | Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner | 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. | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GW | Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition | KX | Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met |
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| 2024-01-01 | Changed | Short and Medium Descriptions changed. Guideline added. |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Add-on code status changed. Long description revised. Medium description changed. Short description changed. Guideline information changed. |
| 2006-01-01 | Added | First appearance in code book in 2006. |
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