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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesExcision Procedures on the Neck (Soft Tissues) and ThoraxCPT cpt-21550-soft-tissue-excision-neck-chest-diagnostic-biopsy
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    CPT 21550: Excision of Soft Tissue, Neck or Chest for Diagnosis

    Medicare pays $282 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 21550 describes a diagnostic surgical procedure in which the provider excises a small portion of soft tissue from the neck or chest for pathological analysis to evaluate a suspected condition such as infection or malignancy; service type: excisional biopsy of soft tissue, typical site of service: ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department for minor operative procedures and diagnostic sampling.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Surgical Procedures, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Site of Service Ambulatory Service Center (ASC) Select — Surgical or Diagnostic Procedures in Adults.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult presenting with a palpable, enlarging, or suspicious lymph node or soft tissue mass in the neck or upper chest detected on physical exam or imaging (ultrasound or CT). The clinician documents history of a persistent, non-resolving mass, systemic B symptoms (fever, night sweats, weight loss) or concern for malignancy or infection. After informed consent, the patient is taken to a minor procedure room, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital outpatient department. Local anesthesia with or without conscious sedation is used. The provider palpates and isolates the lesion, makes a small incision, and excises an adequate soft tissue sample or small lesion for histopathology, culture, and immunohistochemical studies. Specimens are labeled and sent to pathology; a wound closure is performed and post-procedure instructions given. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinic procedure rooms, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospital outpatient departments. Common clinical workflows include pre-procedure consent and time-out, performance of the excisional biopsy, specimen handling and documentation, and postoperative pathology follow-up for definitive diagnosis and further staging or antimicrobial therapy as indicated.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10060Incision and drainage of abscess; simple or singleMay be performed when an infected soft tissue mass is fluctuant and requires drainage rather than excisional biopsy
    10120Incision and drainage of pilonidal cyst or debridement; simpleRelated for management of superficial infected lesions in the chest or neck area when indicated
    11100Biopsy of skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane (single)Performed for smaller superficial lesions or when a punch/shave biopsy is appropriate prior to or instead of excisional biopsy
    20220Excision of lesion of mandible or maxilla; intraosseousListed as related for head/neck surgical workflows when deeper osseous lesions are involved (less commonly related)
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationPathology CPT often billed by the laboratory for evaluation of excised soft tissue specimens and immunohistochemistry workflows

    Related Modifiers

    10 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…
    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…
    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…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207R00000X
    207L00000X
    207Q00000X
    207P00000X
    208000000X
    2470A2800X
    364SC0200X
    125K00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    22 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C77.0Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck
    C77.1Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of intrathoracic lymph nodes
    C77.2Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of intra-abdominal lymph nodes
    C77.3Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of axilla and upper limb lymph nodes
    C77.4Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of inguinal and lower limb lymph nodes
    C77.5Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of intrapelvic lymph nodes
    I72.8Aneurysm of other specified arteries

    Showing 1–10 of 22

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    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
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines — Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) - Site of Care PolicyKaiser Permanente2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-21552-SUBCUTANEOUS-MASS-EXCISION-NECK-CHEST-3CM-OR-GREATER

    CPT 21552: Excision of Subcutaneous Mass, Neck or Chest, 3.0 cm or Greater

    CPT-21554-NECK-ANTERIOR-THORAX-DEEP-TUMOR-EXCISION-5CM-PLUS

    CPT 21554: Excision of Subfascial Tumor ≥5 cm, Neck or Anterior Thorax

    CPT-21555-SUBCUTANEOUS-MASS-EXCISION-NECK-CHEST

    CPT 21555: Excision of Subcutaneous Mass, Neck or Anterior Chest (<3 cm)

    CPT-21556-NECK-ANTERIOR-CHEST-MUSCLE-MASS-EXCISION-LESS-THAN-5CM

    CPT 21556: Excision of Intramuscular Neck/Anterior Chest Mass (<5 cm)

    CPT-21557-EXTENSIVE-SOFT-TISSUE-EXCISION-NECK-ANTERIOR-THORAX

    CPT 21557: Extensive Excision of Soft Tissue Tumor, Neck/Anterior Thorax

    CPT-21558-EXTENSIVE-EXCISION-SOFT-TISSUE-MALIGNANT-TUMOR-NECK-THORAX

    CPT 21558: Extensive Excision of Malignant Soft Tissue Tumor, Neck/Anterior Chest

    CPT-21600-PARTIAL-RIB-RESECTION

    CPT 21600: Rib Resection for Deformity or Infection

    CPT-21601-CHEST-WALL-TUMOR-EXCISION-WITH-RIB-RESECTION

    CPT 21601: Chest Wall Tumor Excision with Rib Resection

    CPT-21602-CHEST-WALL-TUMOR-RESECTION-RECONSTRUCTION-RIBS-MYOCUTANEOUS

    CPT 21602: Chest Wall Tumor Excision with Rib Reconstruction

    CPT-21603-CHEST-WALL-TUMOR-EXCISION-RECONSTRUCTION

    CPT 21603: Chest Wall Tumor Excision with Rib Reconstruction

    Showing 1–10 of 16

    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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