Summary & Overview
CPT 21029: Removal of Benign Bone Tumor by Contouring/Reshaping
CPT code 21029 designates surgical removal of a benign bone tumor by contouring or reshaping the affected bone and adjacent soft tissues. The procedure addresses deforming congenital or developmental bone abnormalities such as fibrous dysplasia and is a major invasive operation that may be performed in inpatient or ambulatory surgical settings. Nationally, the code matters because it captures complex reconstructive oncologic and congenital bone interventions that affect reimbursement, utilization tracking, and surgical quality measurement.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical sites of service, and what to expect from coverage and billing perspectives. The publication summarizes common reimbursement considerations, relevant benchmarks where available, and policy or coding updates that affect use of this code. It also provides guidance on typical clinical scenarios that prompt use of the code and notes where input data was not available.
This national-level brief is intended for billing specialists, surgical providers, and policy analysts seeking a clear synopsis of CPT code 21029, its clinical role, and payer scope.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 21029 describes surgical removal of a benign, noncancerous bone lesion by contouring or reshaping the affected bone and surrounding soft tissues. The procedure is a major invasive operation typically used to treat severe congenital bone abnormalities such as fibrous dysplasia, where abnormal fibrous tissue disrupts normal bone growth and produces deformity.
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Service type: Major surgical procedure for tumor removal by contouring/reshaping of bone
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Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, depending on clinical complexity and facility capabilities
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 14-year-old adolescent presents with progressive facial asymmetry and painless swelling of the maxilla diagnosed as fibrous dysplasia causing cosmetic deformity and functional midface distortion. Imaging (CT facial bones) demonstrates irregular expansile bony growth of the maxilla with cortical thinning but no aggressive features. After multidisciplinary evaluation by craniofacial surgery and otolaryngology, the patient is scheduled for operative contouring and debulking of the benign bony lesion to restore facial symmetry and relieve soft-tissue impingement.
The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (history, physical exam, airway assessment, imaging review), informed consent discussing goals and risks, operative planning with possible intraoperative navigation, general anesthesia with airway management, surgical exposure of the involved bone, careful resection and contouring of the dysplastic bone, hemostasis, possible intraoperative pathology to confirm benign disease, closure, and postoperative monitoring in PACU with follow-up for wound checks and functional/cosmetic outcome assessment. Billing reflects a major invasive contouring procedure reported with 21029 and may include appropriate modifiers for laterality, professional component, or circumstances impacting the procedure.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
51 | Multiple procedures |