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The procedure described by CPT® Code 60600 involves the excision of a carotid body tumor, which is a benign neoplasm located at the bifurcation of the common carotid arteries. The carotid bodies are specialized clusters of paraganglionic cells, known as glomus tissue, that play a critical role in monitoring arterial blood composition. They detect variations in blood gases, particularly elevated carbon dioxide levels and decreased oxygen levels, and trigger autonomic responses that adjust respiratory and heart rates to maintain homeostasis. During the excision procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the neck over the area where the common carotid artery divides into the internal and external carotid arteries. The surgical approach requires careful dissection to separate the tumor from the surrounding vascular structures, particularly the internal carotid artery, ensuring that the artery remains intact. This procedure is specifically coded as 60600 when the excision of the carotid artery is not necessary. In contrast, if a portion of the carotid artery must be removed to facilitate the tumor excision, CPT® Code 60605 should be utilized instead.
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The excision of a carotid body tumor is indicated for patients presenting with the following conditions:
The procedure for excising a carotid body tumor involves several critical steps to ensure the safe removal of the tumor while preserving surrounding vascular structures.
After the excision of the carotid body tumor, patients typically require monitoring for any signs of complications, such as bleeding or infection. Post-operative care may include pain management and instructions for wound care. Patients are often advised to avoid strenuous activities during the initial recovery period to promote healing. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess the surgical site and ensure that there are no residual symptoms or complications. The expected recovery time may vary depending on the individual patient's health status and the extent of the procedure performed.
| Short Descr | REMOVE CAROTID BODY LESION | Medium Descr | EXC CAROTID BODY TUMOR W/O EXC CAROTID ARTERY | Long Descr | Excision of carotid body tumor; without excision of carotid artery | 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 | Inpatient Procedures, not paid under OPPS | Type of Service (TOS) | 2 - Surgery | Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) | P1G - Major procedure - Other | MUE | 1 | CCS Clinical Classification | 59 - Other OR procedures on vessels of head and neck |
| 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). | 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.) | 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) | RT | Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body) | 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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