Interstitial laser therapy for breast cancer
Summary
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on interstitial laser therapy for breast cancer.
As part of the NICE's work programme, the current guidance was considered for review but did not meet the review criteria as set out in the IP process guide. The guidance below therefore remains current.
Description
Standard treatments for small breast cancers include lumpectomy or mastectomy (without preceding laser therapy), and minimally invasive techniques such as radiofrequency ablation or cryotherapy.
Interstitial laser therapy is a minimally invasive technique for treating small breast cancers. After locating the tumour using stereotactic techniques or ultrasound, laser energy is delivered into the tumour via a needle probe. This causes the tumour to shrink. A surgeon may then remove the tumour, although sometimes surgery is not necessary.
OPCS code:
B40.1 Interstitial laser destruction of lesion of breast
In addition an ICD-10 code from category C50.- Malignant neoplasm of breast or C79.8 Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites is assigned.
The NHS Classifications Service of NHS Connecting for Health is the central definitive source for clinical coding guidance and determines the coding standards associated with the classifications (OPCS-4 and ICD-10) to be used across the NHS. The NHS Classifications Service and NICE work collaboratively to ensure the most appropriate classification codes are provided. www.connectingforhealth.co.uk/clinicalcoding
Details
Contact details:
(for general enquiries or comments)
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
