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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesIntroduction Procedures on the BreastCPT cpt-19287-mri-guided-breast-lesion-localization
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    CPT 19287: MRI-Guided Breast Lesion Localization, First Lesion

    Medicare pays $625 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 19287 describes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance to place a device for breast lesion localization (for example, a clip, metallic pellet, wire/needle, or radioactive seed) and is reported for the first lesion; this is an image-guided breast localization procedure typically performed by radiology or breast surgery teams as an outpatient/interventional radiology service in an ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or dedicated imaging suite.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Removal of Implantable, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Surgical Procedures.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 52-year-old woman with a suspicious focus seen only on breast MRI is scheduled for MRI-guided breast lesion localization to facilitate surgical excision. She has a prior diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound that are nondiagnostic for the MRI-detected lesion. On the day of service the patient is positioned prone in the MRI breast coil, intravenous access obtained, and MRI sequences are performed to identify and target the lesion. Under MRI guidance the radiologist places a localization device (e.g., metallic clip or needle/wire) into the lesion. Post-placement MRI or mammographic confirmation images are obtained. The localization is later used by the breast surgeon to guide lumpectomy.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    19295Preoperative placement of needle localization device (e.g., for breast lesion), mammographic or stereotactic guidance, each lesionUsed when radiographic (mammographic or stereotactic) rather than MRI guidance is used for localization; alternative guidance modality.
    19081Localization of lesion during intraoperative placement, percutaneous placement of localization device without imaging guidance (breast)Performed in some workflows when intraoperative localization or non-image-guided placement is used instead of MRI guidance.
    76000Fluoroscopy (diagnostic)May be used when adjunct fluoroscopic imaging is required for localization confirmation or seed placement.
    77021Magnetic resonance guidance for localization, percutaneous, including imaging and monitoringAdjunct MRI guidance codes that may be reported for imaging guidance components in some reporting scenarios.
    19288Breast lesion localization, image guidance; for each additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary lesion)Used when more than one lesion is localized under MRI guidance on the same day; reported in addition to 19287.

    Related Modifiers

    7 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    207RH0000X
    2080P0207X
    207RP1001X
    246ZA2600X
    273R00000X
    163WX0106X
    111NN0400X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    20 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C50.112Malignant neoplasm of central portion of left female breast
    C50.122Malignant neoplasm of central portion of left male breast
    C50.212Malignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of left female breast
    C50.412Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of left female breast
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C50.919Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified female breast
    C79.81Secondary malignant neoplasm of breast
    D05.10Intraductal carcinoma in situ of unspecified breast
    D05.11Intraductal carcinoma in situ of right breast

    Showing 1–10 of 20

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Removal of ImplantableBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in AdultsPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Select — Site of Service for Ambulatory Surgical Procedures (ASC Select)Premera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) SelectPremera Bluecross2026-09-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-19281-BREAST-LESION-LOCALIZATION-MAMMOGRAPHIC-GUIDANCE

    CPT 19281: Mammographic-Guided Breast Lesion Localization, First Lesion

    CPT-19282-BREAST-LOCALIZATION-DEVICE-PLACEMENT-MAMMOGRAPHIC-GUIDANCE

    CPT 19282: Mammographic-Guided Breast Localization Add-On

    CPT-19283-STEREOTACTIC-BREAST-LESION-LOCALIZATION-FIRST-LESION

    CPT 19283: Stereotactic Breast Lesion Localization, First Lesion

    CPT-19284-STEREOTACTIC-BREAST-LOCALIZATION-ADD-ON

    CPT 19284: Stereotactic Add-On Breast Localization, Additional Lesion

    CPT-19285-BREAST-LESION-LOCALIZATION-ULTRASOUND-GUIDED-FIRST-LESION

    CPT 19285: Ultrasound-Guided Breast Lesion Localization, First Lesion

    CPT-19286-ULTRASOUND-GUIDED-BREAST-LOCALIZATION-ADD-ON

    CPT 19286: Ultrasound-Guided Breast Localization Device Placement

    CPT-19288-MRI-GUIDED-ADD-ON-BREAST-LOCALIZATION

    CPT 19288: MRI-Guided Breast Localization, Add-on

    CPT-19294-TUMOR-CAVITY-PREPARATION-IORT-PARTIAL-MASTECTOMY

    CPT 19294: Tumor Cavity Preparation for Intraoperative Radiation Therapy

    CPT-19296-BALLOON-CATHETER-PLACEMENT-BRACHYTHERAPY-PARTIAL-MASTECTOMY

    CPT 19296: Balloon Catheter Placement for Breast Radiotherapy After Partial Mastectomy

    CPT-19297-BALLOON-CATHETER-PLACEMENT-PARTIAL-MASTECTOMY-RADIOTHERAPY

    CPT 19297: Balloon Catheter Placement for Radiotherapy at Partial Mastectomy

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    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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