Coding for sacral soft-tissue core biopsy

Q.

The doctor performed a sacral soft tissue core biopsy, and I am unable to locate a code for that service. The biopsy was of a mass in the soft tissue above the sacral area. What should I report?

A.

You would report CPT^® code 20206. Though the code says “muscle,” in several locations throughout the CPT book where they have an excisional (open) biopsy of soft tissue areas, the parenthetical notes state to use 20206 for a soft tissue needle biopsy. One example is CPT code 27323 Biopsy, soft tissue of thigh or knee area; superficial (For needle biopsy of soft tissue, use 20206).

The code and full description are as follows: 

20206 Biopsy, muscle, percutaneous needle