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Official Description

Radical resection of tumor, shaft or distal humerus

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Radical resection of a tumor in the shaft or distal humerus is a surgical procedure primarily indicated for the removal of malignant neoplasms, although it may also be necessary for benign tumors or tumors of indeterminate nature. The procedure begins with the creation of a skin incision directly over the tumor site, or alternatively, a skin flap may be elevated to provide access. The surgeon meticulously dissects the overlying tissue to expose the tumor, ensuring that all affected bone and cartilage in the shaft or distal humerus are removed. This comprehensive approach involves excising the tumor en bloc, which means the tumor is taken out in one piece along with a wide margin of healthy surrounding tissue to ensure complete removal of cancerous cells. The radical resection process also encompasses the excision of all involved soft tissues, which can include muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and any tissues surrounding the joints that may be affected by the tumor. To confirm that all cancerous cells have been eliminated, 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 all margins are confirmed to be free of tumor cells. Post-surgery, drains may be placed as necessary to manage fluid accumulation, and the surgical wound can be closed in layers, or additional reconstructive procedures may be performed if required.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

Radical resection of a tumor in the shaft or distal humerus is indicated for the following conditions:

  • Malignant Neoplasm The primary indication for this procedure is the presence of a malignant tumor in the shaft or distal humerus, necessitating complete removal to prevent further spread of cancer.
  • Benign Tumors In some cases, benign tumors that may pose a risk of complications or have the potential for malignant transformation may also require radical resection.
  • Indeterminate Tumors Tumors of indeterminate nature, where the potential for malignancy is uncertain, may warrant radical resection to ensure comprehensive treatment and diagnosis.

2. Procedure

The procedure for radical resection of a tumor in the shaft or distal humerus involves several critical steps:

  • Step 1: Incision A skin incision is made directly over the tumor site in the shaft or distal humerus. Alternatively, a skin flap may be created and elevated to provide adequate access to the underlying structures.
  • Step 2: Dissection The surgeon carefully dissects the overlying tissue to expose the tumor. This step is crucial to ensure that the tumor is adequately visualized and that surrounding tissues are preserved as much as possible.
  • Step 3: Tumor Resection All bone and cartilage in the shaft or distal humerus that is involved with the tumor is resected. The tumor is removed en bloc, which means it is excised in one piece along with a wide margin of surrounding healthy tissue to ensure complete removal of any cancerous cells.
  • Step 4: Soft Tissue Excision The radical resection includes the excision of all involved soft tissue, which may encompass muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and any tissues surrounding the joints that may be affected by the tumor.
  • Step 5: Frozen Section A separately reportable frozen section may be performed during the procedure to ensure that all margins are free of tumor cells. If any margins show evidence of malignancy, additional tissue is removed until all margins are confirmed to be clear of cancerous cells.
  • Step 6: Drain Placement Drains may be placed as needed to manage any fluid accumulation post-surgery, which helps in preventing complications such as seromas or hematomas.
  • Step 7: Wound Closure The surgical wound may be closed in layers to promote optimal healing, or separately reportable reconstructive procedures may be performed if necessary to restore function or appearance.

3. Post-Procedure

After the radical resection procedure, patients can expect a recovery period that may vary based on the extent of the surgery and individual health factors. Post-operative care typically includes monitoring for any signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring proper wound healing. Patients may require physical therapy to regain strength and mobility in the affected arm. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to assess recovery and to discuss any further treatment options, such as chemotherapy or radiation, if indicated based on the pathology results. Additionally, the placement of drains will be monitored, and they will be removed once fluid accumulation is deemed minimal. Overall, the focus during the post-procedure phase is on facilitating recovery while ensuring that all surgical goals have been met.

Short Descr RAD RESCJ TUM DSTL/SHFT HUM
Medium Descr RADICAL RESECTION TUMOR SHAFT/DISTAL HUMERUS
Long Descr Radical resection of tumor, shaft or distal humerus
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
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P3D - Major procedure, orthopedic - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 142 - Partial excision bone

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

20932 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Allograft, includes templating, cutting, placement and internal fixation, when performed; osteoarticular, including articular surface and contiguous bone (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
20933 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Allograft, includes templating, cutting, placement and internal fixation, when performed; hemicortical intercalary, partial (ie, hemicylindrical) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
20934 Add-on Code MPFS Status: Active Code APC N ASC N1 Allograft, includes templating, cutting, placement and internal fixation, when performed; intercalary, complete (ie, cylindrical) (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)
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.
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.)
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
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 description changed.
2010-01-01 Changed Code description changed.
Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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