CPT® Code 88012

A necropsy, commonly referred to as an autopsy, is a thorough examination performed post-mortem to determine the cause of death or to study the effects of disease. Specifically, CPT® Code 88012 pertains to a necropsy conducted for gross examination only on an infant, which includes individuals aged from birth up to 12 months. This procedure is crucial for understanding various pathological conditions that may affect infants, including those who are stillborn or have died shortly after birth. The examination encompasses a comprehensive external assessment, which may involve taking full body and facial photographs to document the infant's condition. During the necropsy, radiographic examinations may also be utilized to detect any new or healing bone fractures, skeletal dysplasia, metaphysitis, and cerebral calcifications, as well as to evaluate bone maturation at ossification centers. The physical measurements taken during the examination include the infant's weight, length from crown to heel, crown to rump, head circumference, and foot length. The examination of the head is particularly detailed, looking for signs of trauma such as abrasions, cephalohematoma, caput succedaneum, bulging fontanelles, and the condition of the sutures. Additionally, facial features and skin integrity are assessed, along with the shape of the chest and abdomen, noting any abnormalities such as crepitus, omphalocele, or gastroschisis. If the umbilical cord, placenta, and membranes are still attached, they are examined for conditions like umbilical hypercoiling, knots, chorioamnionitis, and infarction. The genitalia are also inspected to ascertain the infant's gender and to check the patency of the anus, vagina, and urethra. The back and spine are examined for neural tube defects, pigmented lesions, and hair tufts. Following the external examination, internal organs are assessed using techniques similar to those outlined in CPT® Code 88000, with a particular focus on the brain, as described in CPT® Code 88005. This code specifically reports the gross examination of an infant's brain during the necropsy process, distinguishing it from other codes that pertain to stillborn or newborn examinations. Overall, the necropsy serves as a vital tool in understanding infant mortality and the underlying causes of death in this vulnerable population.