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The CPT® Code 24077 refers to the radical resection of a tumor located in the soft tissue of the upper arm or elbow area, specifically when the tumor measures less than 5 cm. Soft tissues encompass a variety of structures, including muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and the tissues that surround joints. Tumors found within these soft tissues can be classified as either benign or malignant. However, radical resection is primarily indicated for malignant neoplasms, such as sarcomas, although it may also be necessary for benign tumors or those of uncertain nature. The procedure typically begins with the creation of a skin incision directly over the tumor site or the elevation of a skin flap to access the tumor. Following this, the overlying tissue is carefully dissected to expose the tumor. The surgical goal is to remove the tumor en bloc, which means excising it along with a wide margin of healthy surrounding tissue to ensure complete removal. This radical approach may involve the excision of all affected soft tissue, which can include muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. To confirm that all tumor cells have been removed, a frozen section analysis is performed on the margins of the excised tissue. If any malignancy is detected at the margins, additional tissue will be excised until clear margins are achieved. Post-surgery, drains may be placed as necessary, and the surgical wound can be closed in layers, or additional reconstructive procedures may be performed if required. For tumors measuring 5 cm or greater, the appropriate code to use is 24079.
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The radical resection of soft tissue tumors in the upper arm or elbow area, as described by CPT® Code 24077, is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for radical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the upper arm or elbow area involves several critical steps:
After the radical resection procedure, patients can expect specific post-operative care and considerations. Monitoring for signs of infection, proper wound care, and managing any drains placed during surgery are essential components of recovery. Patients may experience pain and swelling in the surgical area, which can be managed with prescribed medications. Follow-up appointments are crucial to assess healing and to review the results of the frozen section analysis. If additional tissue was removed due to positive margins, further treatment may be discussed based on the pathology results. Rehabilitation may also be necessary to restore function and strength in the affected arm or elbow area.
| Short Descr | RAD RESCJ TUM TISS A/E <5CM | Medium Descr | RAD RESCJ TUMOR SOFT TISS UPPER ARM/ELBOW <5CM | Long Descr | Radical resection of tumor (eg, sarcoma), soft tissue of upper arm or elbow area; less than 5 cm | 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) | 1 - Statutory payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure... | Co-Surgeons (62) | 1 - Co-surgeons could be paid, though supporting documentation is required... | 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 | Non office-based surgical procedure added in CY 2008 or later; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight. | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 160 - Other therapeutic procedures on muscles and tendons |
| 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). | 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). | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.) | 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.) | 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 | 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) | 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 |
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| 2023-01-01 | Note | Short and medium descriptions changed. |
| 2014-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2010-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
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