In simple words: The doctor examines one organ from a deceased person's body to find out the cause of death. This may involve looking at the organ directly or examining tiny tissue samples under a microscope.

This CPT code, 88037, represents a physician's services for a limited necropsy (autopsy) involving the gross and/or microscopic examination of a single organ from a deceased individual.The gross examination involves visual inspection of the organ, while the microscopic examination requires the preparation and examination of tissue samples under a microscope. This procedure may be performed to investigate a suspected cause of death or confirm a diagnosis.

Example 1: A patient dies unexpectedly at home. The physician performs a limited autopsy, focusing on the heart to determine if a heart attack was the cause of death., A patient dies in a hospital after a long illness. The attending physician requests a limited autopsy focusing on the lungs to rule out pneumonia as a contributing factor to death., A medical examiner needs to examine a single organ, such as the liver, to investigate a particular concern.

Detailed documentation should include the organ examined, the findings of both the gross and microscopic examination (if performed), and a statement regarding the reason for the limited autopsy (e.g., specific cause of death investigation).

** This code is for physician services only.Any laboratory tests performed by an outside laboratory should be billed separately.