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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesFine Needle Aspiration Biopsy ProceduresCPT cpt-10006-ultrasound-guided-fna-additional-lesion
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    CPT 10006: Fine Needle Aspiration, Additional Lesion, Ultrasound-Guided

    Medicare pays $62 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 10006 describes a fine needle aspiration (FNA) performed to obtain a diagnostic specimen from an additional lesion, cyst, or mass under ultrasound guidance; service type: image-guided diagnostic biopsy; typical site of service: outpatient procedure suite or radiology/ultrasound suite in an ambulatory care setting.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Destruction of Pre-Malignant Skin Lesions, Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverage, Treatment of Capillary Malformations (Port Wine Stains).

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 54-year-old woman presents to the outpatient radiology suite with a palpable 1.8 cm thyroid nodule identified on prior ultrasound and an additional 0.9 cm suspicious lateral neck lymph node. The ordering endocrinologist requests ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) of the dominant thyroid nodule and biopsy of the additional lymph node for cytologic diagnosis. The interventional radiologist performs the primary ultrasound-guided FNA of the dominant thyroid lesion (reported under 10005) and then performs a second ultrasound-guided FNA of the additional lymph node during the same encounter. The procedure workflow includes pre-procedure consent, ultrasound localization, local anesthetic, aspiration with a fine needle and syringe, immediate slide preparation (or specimen preservation for cytology), and documentation of lesions sampled. The encounter is typically performed in an outpatient radiology or hospital ambulatory procedure setting. Billing: report 10005 for the primary ultrasound-guided FNA and report 10006 for each additional lesion biopsied under ultrasound guidance during the same session.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10005Fine needle aspiration; with imaging guidance (eg, ultrasound) with percutaneous imaging guidance for the first lesionPrimary code for the initial ultrasound-guided FNA during the encounter; 10006 is billed for each additional lesion
    20220Biopsy of parotid gland or external ear lesion; needle aspirationMay be used when FNAs target salivary gland lesions rather than superficial soft tissue masses
    10021Fine needle aspiration without imaging guidance; first lesionAlternate code when FNA is performed without imaging guidance for the first lesion
    10022Fine needle aspiration without imaging guidance; each additional lesionCompanion to 10021 when multiple non-image-guided FNAs are performed
    76942Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device), imaging supervision and interpretationReported in some payer scenarios when separate ultrasound guidance is billed in addition to the FNA codes; payer rules vary

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207Q00000X
    363L00000X
    2088P0231X
    207RH0003X
    208000000X
    207NI0002X
    2080S0012X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B35.1Tinea unguium
    C44.319Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C61Malignant neoplasm of prostate
    C73Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland
    D48.5Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin
    D49.2Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    I83.90Asymptomatic varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity
    I87.2Venous insufficiency (chronic) (peripheral)

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Destruction of Pre-Malignant Skin LesionsAnthem2026-10-01
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Treatment of Capillary Malformations (Port Wine Stains)universityofutahhealthplans2026-09-28
    AnzupgoCigna2026-09-15
    Zevaskyn Coverage for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis BullosaCigna2026-09-01
    Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid ProductsCigna2026-08-15
    Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per DaysCigna2026-08-15
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Acne and Rosacea Medicationsharvard pilgrim health care2026-08-11
    Dermatology - Anzupgo Prior Authorization PolicyCigna2026-08-05
    Light Therapy for Dermatologic Conditionsbcbsvermont2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-10004-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-ADDITIONAL-LESION

    CPT 10004: Fine Needle Aspiration, Additional Lesion

    CPT-10005-ULTRASOUND-GUIDED-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-FIRST-LESION

    CPT 10005: Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration, First Lesion

    CPT-10007-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-FLUOROSCOPIC-GUIDANCE

    CPT 10007: Fluoroscopic Fine Needle Aspiration, First Lesion

    CPT-10008-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-ADDITIONAL-LESION-FLUOROSCOPIC

    CPT 10008: Fine Needle Aspiration, Additional Lesion

    CPT-10009-CT-GUIDED-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-FIRST-LESION

    CPT 10009: CT-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration, First Lesion

    CPT-10010-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-ADDITIONAL-LESION-CT-GUIDANCE

    CPT 10010: Fine Needle Aspiration, Additional Lesion

    CPT-10011-MR-GUIDED-FNA-BIOPSY-FIRST-LESION

    CPT 10011: MR-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration, First Lesion

    CPT-10012-MR-GUIDED-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-ADDITIONAL-LESION

    CPT 10012: Fine Needle Aspiration, Additional Lesion, MR Guidance

    CPT-10021-FINE-NEEDLE-ASPIRATION-FIRST-LESION-BIOPSY

    CPT 10021: Fine Needle Aspiration (First Lesion)

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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