© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Radical resection of a tumor in the soft tissue of the hand or finger, as described by CPT® Code 26117, involves the surgical removal of a tumor that is less than 3 cm in size. 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 indeterminate nature may also necessitate this extensive surgical approach. The procedure typically begins with a skin incision made 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. This comprehensive excision is crucial to ensure that all involved soft tissue, including muscles, nerves, and blood vessels, is adequately addressed. 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 manage fluid accumulation, and the surgical wound can be closed in layers or may require additional reconstructive procedures, which are reported separately. For tumors measuring 3 cm or greater, CPT® Code 26118 should be utilized instead.
© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
The radical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the hand or finger, as indicated by CPT® Code 26117, is performed for various reasons, primarily focusing on the following conditions:
The procedure for radical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the hand or finger involves several critical steps, which are detailed as follows:
Post-procedure care following a radical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the hand or finger involves monitoring for complications and ensuring proper healing. Patients may require follow-up visits to assess the surgical site, manage any drains that have been placed, and monitor for signs of infection or other complications. Pain management is also an important aspect of post-operative care. Depending on the extent of the surgery and the individual patient's recovery, rehabilitation may be necessary to restore function and mobility to the affected hand or finger. Additionally, the results of the frozen section analysis will guide any further treatment decisions, particularly if additional tissue removal is required.
| Short Descr | RAD RESECT HAND TUMOR < 3 CM | Medium Descr | RAD RESECT TUMOR SOFT TISSUE HAND/FINGER <3CM | Long Descr | Radical resection of tumor (eg, sarcoma), soft tissue of hand or finger; less than 3 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) | 0 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures does NOT apply. | 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) | 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 | 2 | 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. | 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.) | AG | Primary physician | AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | 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 | 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) | SG | Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service | XS | Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure |
|
Date
|
Action
|
Notes
|
|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-01 | Changed | Description Changed |
| 2010-01-01 | Changed | Code description changed. |
| Pre-1990 | Added | Code added. |
Get instant expert-level medical coding assistance.