According to CPT integumentary coding guidelines, who are the providers involved in Mohs micrographic surgery?

In the context of Mohs micrographic surgery, the correct answer involves the surgeon and the pathologist because this procedure requires a unique collaboration between these two professionals to ensure effectiveness and accuracy. Mohs micrographic surgery is primarily performed to treat skin cancer, and the process involves the surgeon excising cancerous skin in layers while simultaneously having those layers analyzed by a pathologist for any remaining cancer cells.

The surgeon initially removes a thin layer of skin containing the tumor. After removal, the pathologist examines the tissue specimen to determine if cancerous cells remain. If traces of cancer are found, the surgeon removes another layer and this process is repeated until clear margins are achieved. This coordinated effort is crucial for the success of the surgery and for maximizing the chances of complete tumor removal.

While nurses may assist during the procedure and anesthetists may be involved in administering anesthesia, they do not play key roles in the ongoing examination and assessment of the cancerous tissue that is central to Mohs surgery. Similarly, a physician's assistant may assist the surgeon but typically does not conduct the histopathological analysis that is vital to this procedure. Therefore, the collaboration between the surgeon and pathologist is what distinctly characterizes the Mohs micrographic surgery process.