Whether that foreign body is a bug, bean, bead, rock, sand or other object depends on which age group is involved. If you do both ears cerumen impaction removal (69210)and one ear foreign body removal (69200), then you could justify both codes with a 59 modifier on the 69210. In the Ear, Nose, and Throat office, the doctor will typically see about one patient a month with a foreign body in the ear. If you believe your child has a battery in their ear, nose or throat, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. A foreign-body granuloma occurs when a foreign body (such as a wood splinter, piece of metal, glass etc.) According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, death by choking is a leading cause of death and injury among children younger than 4 years of age. In some cases the foreign body can be found and removed even years after the precipitating event. Wiki User September 28, 2011 8:30PM. penetrates the body's soft tissue followed by acute inflammation and formation of a granuloma. What does foreign body in the ear mean? The foreign body can get stuck in many different places within the airway. A foreign body in the airway (choking) constitutes a medical emergency and requires immediate attention. Related Questions. Foreign Bodies in the Ear, Nose, and Airway. Your child must be evaluated by a healthcare professional immediately so that they can safely remove the battery. But since we have a definite code (69200) for foreign body removal from the ear, we cannot report E/M code for this and as this procedure was performed by a medical assistant, you should not report this as well. Foreign Body in the the Ear. Something that is not supposed to be in your ear - is in your ear! For more clarification, we advise you to contact the insurance executive and ask them in what way they may pay this. This is in the NCCI edit list with a 1, but my thinking is that if you do one ear for foreign body and the same ear for impaction cerumen removal, then it's considered inclusive so 69200. Introduction. A patient presenting with a foreign body in ear or nose is a common scenario in otolaryngology department. Except for the threat of being aspirated and becoming a foreign body of lower airways, a foreign body of nose is a condition which can easily be managed when detected early.