Billing code
Z118A — Aspiration of superficial lump for cytology
Lump aspiration for cytology
Bill for aspirating a superficial lump to get a sample for cytology, payable in addition to an assessment.
Watch for: Breast cyst aspiration is a different code, Z139.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30.95 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- Z118A
- Description
- Aspiration of superficial lump for cytology
- FHO+ basket
- Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2026
- Termination date
- No end date
Explanation
Updated October 26, 2026
Aspiration of a superficial lump to obtain a sample for cytology, billed as an independent operative procedure.
What it covers
Z118 is aspiration of a superficial lump for cytology, listed under Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (M1). It is printed after the foreign body removal codes but is a separate service from them.
As a Z code it is an independent operative procedure (IOP), payable in addition to an assessment (GP4). Aspiration of a breast cyst has its own code, Z139 (Operations of the Breast).
Billing rules
- If you did the major pre-operative visit in the previous 12 months, only a minor assessment (GP/FP) or a partial assessment (specialist) is payable before the aspiration that day; if the decision is made at that day's visit, that visit is the major pre-operative visit and no other assessment before the aspiration is payable (GP4, SP4).
- An unrelated, significant problem in another body system assessed and treated at the same visit can be billed as well (SP4).
- On M1, the outside-hospital add-on E542 is printed under Z114 foreign body removal and Z116 biopsy, not under Z118 (M1).
- FHO: not listed in Schedule 2 (core services), so not part of the base rate basket (Agreement pp.75–82). It is listed in Schedule 4, so it counts toward the Special Payment for Office Procedures when done in the physician's office (Agreement p.67 §8.7, p.94).
Often billed with
- A007 intermediate assessment at the visit where the decision to aspirate is made (GP4, SP4).
Related codes: Z113, Z116, Z114, Z139, Z125, A007
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue, page M1; General Preamble GP4; Surgical Preamble SP4
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