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Official Description

Resection of scrotum

© Copyright 2025 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

Scrotal resection, as described by CPT® Code 55150, is a surgical procedure performed to remove abnormal skin, soft tissue tumors, or excessive lymphatic tissue from the scrotum. This procedure is indicated when there are lesions or other pathological conditions affecting the scrotal area that require surgical intervention. The operation begins with a careful incision made along the boundary between healthy and affected skin, ensuring that the incision is deep enough to reach the dartos fascia, which is a layer of tissue within the scrotum. The surgical field may extend into the inguinal, perineal, and crural regions, depending on the extent of the abnormal tissue. During the procedure, the testes and spermatic cords are meticulously dissected and isolated to prevent damage to these structures. Once the abnormal tissue is excised, it is sent to pathology for further examination, which may involve additional procedures that are reportable separately. After the excision, the tunica vaginalis, a protective layer surrounding the testes, is inverted, and the skin edges are brought together to cover the underlying structures. To ensure proper healing and minimize complications, bleeding is controlled using electrocautery, and a drain may be placed to prevent fluid accumulation. Finally, the incision is closed in layers, starting with the dartos fascia and followed by the skin, to recreate the natural appearance of the scrotal raphe.

© Copyright 2025 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

Scrotal resection is performed for specific indications that necessitate surgical intervention in the scrotal area. These indications include:

  • Skin Lesions The presence of abnormal skin lesions that may be benign or malignant, requiring removal to prevent further complications.
  • Soft Tissue Tumors The identification of soft tissue tumors within the scrotum that need to be excised to ensure complete removal and to facilitate pathological examination.
  • Excessive Lymphatic Tissue Conditions involving excessive lymphatic tissue that may cause discomfort or other complications, warranting surgical resection.

2. Procedure

The procedure for scrotal resection involves several critical steps to ensure the effective removal of abnormal tissue while preserving the integrity of surrounding structures. The steps are as follows:

  • Step 1: Incision An incision is made along the margin of healthy and affected skin, ensuring that it is deep enough to reach the dartos fascia. This incision may extend into the inguinal, perineal, and crural areas, depending on the extent of the lesions.
  • Step 2: Dissection The testes and spermatic cords are carefully dissected free from the surrounding tissue. This step is crucial to isolate these structures and prevent any damage during the excision of the abnormal tissue.
  • Step 3: Excision The abnormal skin and tissue are excised completely. The excised tissue is then sent to pathology for examination, which may involve additional procedures that are reportable separately.
  • Step 4: Inversion of Tunica Vaginalis After the excision, the tunica vaginalis is inverted to help protect the underlying structures and facilitate proper healing.
  • Step 5: Closure The skin edges are brought together to cover the scrotal structures. Bleeding is controlled using electrocautery, and a drain may be placed to prevent fluid accumulation. The incision is then approximated and sutured in layers, starting with the dartos fascia and followed by the skin, to simulate the natural scrotal raphe.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients undergoing scrotal resection includes monitoring for any signs of complications such as infection or excessive bleeding. Patients may be advised to keep the surgical site clean and dry, and to follow specific instructions regarding activity restrictions to promote healing. The placement of a drain, if utilized, will require careful management to ensure proper drainage and prevent fluid accumulation. Follow-up appointments will be necessary to assess healing and to review pathology results from the excised tissue.

Short Descr REMOVAL OF SCROTUM
Medium Descr RESECTION SCROTUM
Long Descr Resection of scrotum
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) 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 Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P5E - Ambulatory procedures - other
MUE 1
CCS Clinical Classification 118 - Other OR therapeutic procedures, male genital
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).
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.
52 Reduced services: under certain circumstances a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician or other qualified health care professional. under these circumstances the service provided can be identified by its usual procedure number and the addition of modifier 52, signifying that the service is reduced. this provides a means of reporting reduced services without disturbing the identification of the basic service. note: for hospital outpatient reporting of a previously scheduled procedure/service that is partially reduced or cancelled as a result of extenuating circumstances or those that threaten the well-being of the patient prior to or after administration of anesthesia, see modifiers 73 and 74 (see modifiers approved for asc hospital outpatient use).
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).
AG Primary physician
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
CC Procedure code change (use 'cc' when the procedure code submitted was changed either for administrative reasons or because an incorrect code was filed)
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
KX Requirements specified in the medical policy have been met
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
Q6 Service furnished under a fee-for-time compensation arrangement by a substitute physician or by a substitute physical therapist furnishing outpatient physical therapy services in a health professional shortage area, a medically underserved area, or a rural area
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
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
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Pre-1990 Added Code added.
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