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Official Description

Mastectomy, partial (eg, lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, segmentectomy);

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Partial mastectomy, also known as lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, or segmentectomy, is a surgical procedure aimed at removing a cancerous lesion or a lesion suspected of being cancerous from the breast. This procedure involves making an incision over the identified lump or mass, which is then visually inspected to confirm its characteristics. The surgeon excises the lump or mass along with a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it to ensure complete removal of any potentially malignant cells. The excised tissue is subsequently sent to a laboratory for histological analysis to determine the nature of the lesion. During the procedure, the surgical site and the surrounding breast tissue are carefully examined for any additional lesions that may require attention. In cases where axillary lymphadenectomy is indicated, an incision is made in the lowest area of the axilla to access the lymph nodes. The procedure includes identifying and dissecting the axillary vein from surrounding tissues, while also protecting the axillary neural structures. Typically, 15 to 25 axillary lymph nodes are excised from beneath the axillary vein and along the nerves and muscles of the axilla. After ensuring that all cancerous or suspicious tissue has been removed, a drain is placed to prevent fluid accumulation, and the surgical wound is closed. It is important to use CPT® Code 19301 when the partial mastectomy is performed without axillary lymphadenectomy, and CPT® Code 19302 when the procedure includes axillary lymphadenectomy.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The partial mastectomy is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Cancerous Lesion Removal of a malignant tumor from the breast.
  • Suspicious Lesion Removal of a lesion that is suspected to be cancerous based on imaging or clinical findings.

2. Procedure

The procedure for a partial mastectomy involves several critical steps to ensure the effective removal of the cancerous tissue.

  • Step 1: Incision An incision is made over the identified lump or mass in the breast. This incision allows the surgeon to access the tissue that needs to be excised.
  • Step 2: Inspection The lump or mass is visually inspected to assess its characteristics and to confirm the need for removal. This step is crucial for determining the extent of the excision.
  • Step 3: Excision The surgeon removes the lump or mass along with a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. This margin is essential to ensure that any potentially malignant cells are also excised.
  • Step 4: Histological Analysis The excised tissue is sent to a laboratory for histological analysis, which helps in determining the nature of the lesion and guides further treatment if necessary.
  • Step 5: Inspection of Surrounding Tissue The surgical site and surrounding breast tissue are inspected for any additional lesions that may require removal.
  • Step 6: Axillary Lymphadenectomy (if indicated) If axillary lymphadenectomy is performed, an incision is made in the lowest area of the axilla. The surgeon identifies the borders of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi muscles, dissects the axillary vein from surrounding tissue, and protects the axillary neural structures.
  • Step 7: Lymph Node Excision The surgeon excises typically 15 to 25 axillary lymph nodes from beneath the axillary vein and along the nerves and muscles of the axilla to assess for cancer spread.
  • Step 8: Drain Placement After all cancerous or suspicious tissue has been excised, a drain is placed to prevent fluid accumulation at the surgical site.
  • Step 9: Wound Closure The surgical wound is then closed, completing the procedure.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for a partial mastectomy includes monitoring the surgical site for signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring proper drainage if a drain has been placed. Patients are typically advised on activity restrictions to promote healing and may require follow-up appointments for wound assessment and to discuss the results of the histological analysis. Additional treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, may be considered based on the findings from the excised tissue.

Short Descr PARTIAL MASTECTOMY
Medium Descr MASTECTOMY PARTIAL
Long Descr Mastectomy, partial (eg, lumpectomy, tylectomy, quadrantectomy, segmentectomy);
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P1A - Major procedure - breast
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 166 - Lumpectomy, quadrantectomy of breast

This is a primary code that can be used with these additional add-on codes.

19294 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Preparation of tumor cavity, with placement of a radiation therapy applicator for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) concurrent with partial mastectomy (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
19297 Addon Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 CPT Assistant Article Illustration for Code Placement of radiotherapy afterloading expandable catheter (single or multichannel) into the breast for interstitial radioelement application following partial mastectomy, includes imaging guidance; concurrent with partial mastectomy (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
C9726 Medicare Coverage: Special Coverage Instructions Add-on Code APC N ASC N1 Placement and removal (if performed) of applicator into breast for intraoperative radiation therapy, add-on to primary breast procedure
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
50 Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
Q1 Routine clinical service provided in a clinical research study that is in an approved clinical research study
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
53 Discontinued procedure: under certain circumstances, the physician or other qualified health care professional may elect to terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure. due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, it may be necessary to indicate that a surgical or diagnostic procedure was started but discontinued. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 53 to the code reported by the individual for the discontinued procedure. note: this modifier is not used to report the elective cancellation of a procedure prior to the patient's anesthesia induction and/or surgical preparation in the operating suite. for outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
54 Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number.
55 Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number.
62 Two surgeons: when 2 surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing distinct part(s) of a procedure, each surgeon should report his/her distinct operative work by adding modifier 62 to the procedure code and any associated add-on code(s) for that procedure as long as both surgeons continue to work together as primary surgeons. each surgeon should report the co-surgery once using the same procedure code. if additional procedure(s) (including add-on procedure(s) are performed during the same surgical session, separate code(s) may also be reported with modifier 62 added. note: if a co-surgeon acts as an assistant in the performance of additional procedure(s), other than those reported with the modifier 62, during the same surgical session, those services may be reported using separate procedure code(s) with modifier 80 or modifier 82 added, as appropriate.
74 Discontinued out-patient hospital/ambulatory surgery center (asc) procedure after administration of anesthesia: due to extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well being of the patient, the physician may terminate a surgical or diagnostic procedure after the administration of anesthesia (local, regional block(s), general) or after the procedure was started (incision made, intubation started, scope inserted, etc). under these circumstances, the procedure started but terminated can be reported by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 74. note: the elective cancellation of a service prior to the administration of anesthesia and/or surgical preparation of the patient should not be reported. for physician reporting of a discontinued procedure, see modifier 53.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
77 Repeat procedure by another physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a basic procedure or service was repeated by another physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 77 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
81 Minimum assistant surgeon: minimum surgical assistant services are identified by adding modifier 81 to the usual procedure number.
AG Primary physician
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
ET Emergency services
GV Attending physician not employed or paid under arrangement by the patient's hospice provider
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
GZ Item or service expected to be denied as not reasonable and necessary
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
PD Diagnostic or related non diagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an inpatient within 3 days
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
X4 Episodic/focused services: for reporting services by clinicians who provide focused care on particular types of treatment limited to a defined period and circumstance; the patient has a problem, acute or chronic, that will be treated with surgery, radiation, or some other type of generally time-limited intervention; reporting clinician service examples include but are not limited to, the orthopedic surgeon performing a knee replacement and seeing the patient through the postoperative period
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
XP Separate practitioner, a service that is distinct because it was performed by a different practitioner
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
Date
Action
Notes
2013-01-01 Changed Short description changed - per AMA 2013 corrections document
2010-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
2007-01-01 Added First appearance in code book in 2007.
1983-12-31 Deleted Code deleted.
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