Several passes into one target

Referral

A fictional adult is referred for diagnostic sampling of one documented superficial lesion. The referral and procedure note identify the same single target. No second lesion is sampled during this encounter.

Procedure

The clinician makes four needle passes into that lesion to obtain adequate material. The report documents each pass and the reason additional material is obtained. These are repeated samples from one target, not four independently identified lesions.

Specimen handling

The material is prepared on multiple slides for examination. Slide labels refer back to the same target lesion and procedure date. The pathology processing record contains more than one preparation step, but it does not establish another lesion sampled by the clinician.

Unit review

A draft procedural charge lists four biopsy units based on the four passes. The worksheet focuses on the NCCI FNA unit rule. Any guidance, pathology or other service must be reviewed separately under its own definition and inclusion rules; none is automatically established by this exercise.

Your coding worksheet

1. Count separately identifiable lesions sampled.
2. Distinguish passes from service units.
3. Explain why slide count does not settle procedural units.
4. Correct the proposed unit reasoning under the cited rule.

In your notebook, record the supported facts, your index route, the instructions you checked, and any missing detail that limits your answer.