Summary & Overview
CPT 19282: Mammographic-Guided Breast Localization Device Placement
CPT code 19282 designates an add-on, image-guided breast localization procedure performed under mammographic guidance to place a localization device (clip, metallic pellet, wire/needle, or radioactive seed) at the same session as placement of another device at an initial lesion. This code matters nationally because accurate localization is critical for targeted surgical excision, image-guided biopsy planning, and coordination between radiology and surgical teams. Proper coding affects claims processing, facility reimbursement, and documentation of combined localization services.
Key payers in this review include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical context for 19282, typical sites of service, and which payers commonly adjudicate add-on breast localization services. The publication summarizes benchmarking elements relevant to utilization and reimbursement practices, highlights potential billing and documentation considerations for combined localization procedures, and outlines how 19282 fits into the broader care pathway for image-guided breast interventions.
The report is designed for coding professionals, radiology and breast surgery clinicians, and revenue cycle staff who need a national-level reference for clinical description, payer coverage context, and where 19282 is applied in care workflows. Data not available in the input.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 19282 is an add-on procedure for placement of a breast localization device under mammographic guidance. The procedure involves placing a localization marker — such as a clip, metallic pellet, wire/needle, or radioactive seed — at the same session when another device is placed at an initial lesion. This code is reported in addition to the primary localization or placement service.
Service type: Image-guided breast localization (add-on procedure)
Typical site of service: Outpatient imaging suite, breast imaging center, or ambulatory surgical center
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old woman with a suspicious mammographic finding scheduled for diagnostic localization and biopsy. Under mammographic guidance, the radiologist performs placement of a localization device (such as a clip, metallic pellet, wire/needle, or radioactive seed) into a secondary lesion at the same session when another device was placed at the initial lesion. The typical workflow includes patient consent and positioning in the mammography suite, diagnostic mammographic imaging to target the lesion, aseptic preparation, placement of the localization device with image confirmation, and documentation of device type and laterality. The procedure is frequently performed in an outpatient radiology or breast center setting with nursing support; the patient may be discharged the same day with instructions for wound care and follow-up surgical or interventional planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | When reporting only the physician’s interpretation or professional portion related to imaging guidance or image interpretation during localization |
50 | Bilateral procedure | When localization devices are placed in both breasts during the same session |