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Radical resection of a tumor in the soft tissue of the forearm and/or wrist area, as described by CPT® Code 25078, involves the surgical removal of a tumor that measures 3 cm or greater. Soft tissues encompass various structures, including muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and the tissues surrounding joints. Tumors in these areas can be either benign or malignant, with radical resection primarily indicated for malignant neoplasms, such as sarcomas. However, benign tumors or those of uncertain nature may also necessitate this extensive surgical approach. The procedure typically begins with a skin incision made directly over the tumor or through the creation and elevation of a skin flap. 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 resection may involve the excision of all affected soft tissue, including muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. To confirm that all tumor cells have been removed, a separately reportable frozen section may be performed to evaluate the margins. 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 as needed. For smaller tumors measuring less than 3 cm, CPT® Code 25077 should be used instead of 25078.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The radical resection of a tumor in the soft tissue of the forearm and/or wrist area, as indicated by CPT® Code 25078, is performed for specific conditions and symptoms, which include:
The procedure for radical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the forearm and/or wrist area involves several critical steps, which are detailed as follows:
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 drainage from the surgical site are essential components of recovery. Patients may also require follow-up appointments to assess healing and to discuss any further treatment options, especially if malignancy was involved. Pain management strategies will be implemented to ensure patient comfort during the recovery phase. Rehabilitation may be necessary to restore function and strength in the forearm and wrist area, depending on the extent of the surgery and the structures involved.
| Short Descr | RESECT FORARM/WRIST TUM 3CM> | Medium Descr | RAD RESCJ TUM SOFT TISSUE FOREARM&/WRIST 3 CM/> | Long Descr | Radical resection of tumor (eg, sarcoma), soft tissue of forearm and/or wrist area; 3 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) | 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 | 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 |
| RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | 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. | 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). | 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. | 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 | 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) | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
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| 2014-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2011-01-01 | Changed | Short description changed. |
| 2010-01-01 | Added | - |
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