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Official Description

Excision, tumor, soft tissue, or vascular malformation, of hand or finger, subfascial (eg, intramuscular); 1.5 cm or greater

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 26113 refers to the excision of a tumor or vascular malformation located in the soft tissue of the hand or finger, specifically when the procedure is performed subfascially, meaning beneath the fascia, which is a layer of connective tissue. The size of the tumor or malformation must be 1.5 cm or greater for this code to be applicable. Soft tissues encompass a variety of structures, including subcutaneous fat, connective tissue, fascia, muscles, tendons, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and the tissues surrounding joints. Tumors found in these soft tissues can be either benign or malignant. Typically, benign tumors are treated through excision, while small malignant or indeterminate tumors may also be excised if they have well-defined margins. The surgical approach may involve incising the skin directly over the tumor or creating and elevating a skin flap to access the underlying tissue. Once the overlying tissue is dissected, the soft tissue mass is exposed, allowing for the excision of the tumor or vascular malformation along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete removal. In some cases, a frozen section may be performed to verify that all margins are free of tumor cells. After the excision, drains may be placed as necessary, and the surgical wound is typically closed in layers to promote proper healing. For excisions of tumors or vascular malformations that are less than 1.5 cm in size, different codes are used, such as CPT® Code 26115 for subcutaneous fat or connective tissue and CPT® Code 26116 for those lying below the fascia.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure associated with CPT® Code 26113 is indicated for the excision of tumors or vascular malformations located in the soft tissue of the hand or finger. The specific indications for this procedure include:

  • Soft Tissue Tumors These may be benign or malignant tumors that require surgical removal due to their size, location, or potential for malignancy.
  • Vascular Malformations Abnormal growths of blood vessels that may cause functional impairment or cosmetic concerns.
  • Size Requirement The tumor or vascular malformation must be 1.5 cm or greater in size to qualify for this specific excision code.

2. Procedure

The procedure for excising a tumor or vascular malformation using CPT® Code 26113 involves several critical steps:

  • Step 1: Preparation The patient is positioned appropriately, and the surgical site is prepared and draped in a sterile manner to minimize the risk of infection.
  • Step 2: Incision An incision is made over the tumor or vascular malformation. Depending on the tumor's location, the incision may be directly over the mass or a skin flap may be created and elevated to provide better access.
  • Step 3: Dissection The overlying tissue is carefully dissected to expose the soft tissue mass. This step requires precision to avoid damaging surrounding structures such as nerves and blood vessels.
  • Step 4: Excision The tumor or vascular malformation is excised along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete removal. This is crucial for preventing recurrence and ensuring that all potentially malignant cells are removed.
  • Step 5: Frozen Section (if applicable) A frozen section may be performed during the procedure to assess the margins of the excised tissue, ensuring that they are free of tumor cells.
  • Step 6: Closure After the excision, the surgical site is closed in layers. Drains may be placed if necessary to prevent fluid accumulation, and the skin is sutured to promote proper healing.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care following the excision of a tumor or vascular malformation using CPT® Code 26113 includes monitoring the surgical site for signs of infection, managing pain, and ensuring proper wound healing. Patients may be advised to keep the area clean and dry, and to follow specific instructions regarding activity restrictions to avoid strain on the surgical site. Follow-up appointments are typically scheduled to assess healing and to remove sutures if non-absorbable materials were used. Additionally, patients should be informed about signs of complications, such as increased redness, swelling, or discharge from the incision site, which may require further medical evaluation.

Short Descr EXC HAND TUM DEEP 1.5 CM/>
Medium Descr EX TUM/VASC MAL SFT TIS HAND/FNGR SUBFSC 1.5CM/>
Long Descr Excision, tumor, soft tissue, or vascular malformation, of hand or finger, subfascial (eg, intramuscular); 1.5 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) 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply.
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) P5B - Ambulatory procedures - musculoskeletal
MUE 3
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.
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.
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.
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).
AG Primary physician
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
F1 Left hand, second digit
F2 Left hand, third digit
F3 Left hand, fourth digit
F4 Left hand, fifth digit
F5 Right hand, thumb
F6 Right hand, second digit
F7 Right hand, third digit
F8 Right hand, fourth digit
F9 Right hand, fifth digit
FA Left hand, thumb
FS Split (or shared) evaluation and management visit
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
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
XE Separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter
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
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2011-01-01 Changed Short description changed.
2010-01-01 Added -
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