© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Radical resection of a tumor in the soft tissue of the upper arm or elbow area, as described by CPT® Code 24079, involves the surgical removal of a significant mass, typically measuring 5 cm or greater. Soft tissues encompass various structures, including muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and the tissues surrounding joints. This procedure is primarily indicated for malignant neoplasms, such as sarcomas, which are aggressive tumors that can invade surrounding tissues. However, it may also be necessary for benign tumors or those of uncertain nature that pose a risk of malignancy. The surgical approach begins with a skin incision directly over the tumor or the creation of a skin flap that is elevated to access the underlying tissue. The surgeon meticulously dissects the overlying tissue to expose the tumor, which is then excised en bloc, meaning it is removed in one piece along with a wide margin of healthy surrounding tissue to ensure complete removal of the tumor. This radical resection aims to eliminate all involved soft tissue, which may include critical structures such as muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. To confirm that the surgical margins are free of tumor cells, a separately reportable frozen section may be performed during the procedure. If any margins are found to contain malignancy, additional tissue will be excised until clear margins are achieved. Post-surgery, drains may be placed as necessary to prevent fluid accumulation, and the surgical wound is typically closed in layers. In some cases, additional reconstructive procedures may be required and reported separately. It is important to note that CPT® Code 24079 is specifically designated for tumors measuring 5 cm or greater, while CPT® Code 24077 is used for tumors less than 5 cm.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
Radical resection of a tumor in the soft tissue of the upper arm or elbow area is indicated for the following conditions:
The procedure for radical resection of a tumor in the soft tissue of the upper arm or elbow area involves several critical steps:
After the radical resection procedure, patients may require specific post-operative care to ensure proper recovery. This includes monitoring for any signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring that drains, if placed, are functioning correctly. Patients are typically advised on activity restrictions to allow for optimal healing of the surgical site. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess the surgical site, remove sutures if necessary, and discuss pathology results from the excised tumor. Additional treatments, such as physical therapy or further oncological care, may be indicated based on the tumor's characteristics and the patient's overall health status.
| Short Descr | RAD RESCJ TUM TISS A/E 5 CM+ | 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; 5 cm or greater | 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) | 2 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery does not apply 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 |
| 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. | 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). | 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.) | 80 | Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s). | 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). | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | CR | Catastrophe/disaster related | GC | This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician | 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 | 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) |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-01 | Note | Short and medium descriptions changed. |
| 2014-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2010-01-01 | Added | - |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.