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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesExcision Procedures on the Humerus (Upper Arm) and ElbowCPT cpt-24066-deep-upper-arm-elbow-biopsy
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    CPT 24066: Deep Upper Arm/Elbow Lump Biopsy

    Medicare pays $708 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 24066 describes an open or incisional biopsy procedure to obtain tissue from a deep-seated lump in the upper arm or elbow region for histopathologic evaluation; service type: surgical biopsy; typical site of service: hospital outpatient department or ambulatory surgery center (upper arm/elbow surgical suite).

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Members, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policy, Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP]).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 58-year-old patient presents with a firm, deep-seated mass in the anterior compartment of the upper arm near the distal brachialis region and the elbow crease. The mass has grown slowly over several months and is mildly painful with activity. Physical exam localizes a 3–4 cm nonmobile subfascial lump. Imaging with ultrasound or MRI suggests a solid soft-tissue lesion suspicious for a neoplasm. The orthopedic oncology or general surgery team schedules a deep soft-tissue biopsy of the upper arm/elbow region to obtain tissue for histopathology and immunohistochemistry to determine benign versus malignant etiology.

    The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure consent and history, review of imaging to plan approach, marking of the site, sterile preparation, local or regional anesthesia (or monitored anesthesia care if indicated), imaging guidance as needed (ultrasound or fluoroscopy), percutaneous core needle or open incisional biopsy of the deep mass, hemostasis and dressing, labeling and sending specimens to pathology, and post-procedure instructions with wound care and follow-up to discuss results and definitive treatment planning.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10120Incision and removal of foreign body, subcutaneous tissues; simpleMay be performed for superficial soft-tissue masses; contrasts with deep biopsy coded by 24066.
    20210Biopsy, bone, trocar or needle; major or minorUsed when a bone biopsy of the humerus or distal humeral metaphysis is required in addition to soft-tissue biopsy.
    23120Excision, tumor, soft tissue of forearm and/or wrist; subfascial massUsed for definitive excision of a soft-tissue tumor of the forearm/wrist region; may follow a diagnostic biopsy like 24066.
    11042Debridement; subcutaneous tissue (includes biopsy of deep tissue when debridement is performed)Occasionally billed when debridement is necessary in the same operative field as a biopsy.
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationTypical pathology code used for biopsy specimen processing and interpretation after the biopsy.
    76942Ultrasonic guidance for needle placementBilled when ultrasound guidance is used to perform the percutaneous core needle biopsy of a deep arm mass.

    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…
    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…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    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
    207K00000X
    207P00000X
    207L00000X
    208D00000X
    207X00000X
    207SG0203X
    207VX0000X
    103TE1000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    21 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C44.619Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
    C49.12Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of left upper limb, including shoulder
    C49.22Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of left lower limb, including hip
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C79.2Secondary malignant neoplasm of skin
    C79.31Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain
    D23.62Other benign neoplasm of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
    D48.5Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin
    L03.113Cellulitis of right upper limb
    L98.9Disorder of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 21

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Orthopedics/Musculoskeletal1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Orthopedic Joint Procedures of the Knee for Managed Medicaid (MMC), Health and Recovery Plan (HARP), Child Health Plus (CHP), and Essential Plan (EP) Membersuniverahealthcare2027-01-01
    Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation or Implantation Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Autologous Platelet-Derived Growth Factors (Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP])Cigna2026-10-15
    Metatarsophalangeal Joint ReplacementCigna2026-10-15
    Shoulder Arthroplasty (Total, Partial, Reverse, Revision and Resurfacing)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Hip Arthroplasty (partial and total hip replacement)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Artificial Lumbar Intervertebral Disc (Lumbar Total Disc Arthroplasty)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Osteochondral Grafting of the Kneeuniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Metal-on-Metal Total Hip Resurfacinguniverahealthcare2026-10-15
    Lumbar Fusion (arthrodesis) with decompressionuniverahealthcare2026-10-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-24065-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW-MASS-BIOPSY

    CPT 24065: Open Biopsy of Upper Arm/Elbow Lump

    CPT-24071-EXCISION-SUBCUTANEOUS-TUMOR-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW-GT-3CM

    CPT 24071: Excision of Subcutaneous Tumor of Upper Arm/Elbow >3 cm

    CPT-24073-DEEP-TUMOR-EXCISION-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW-GREATER-THAN-5CM

    CPT 24073: Excision of Deep Upper Arm/Elbow Tumor >5 cm

    CPT-24075-EXCISION-SOFT-TISSUE-TUMOR-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW-LESS-THAN-3CM

    CPT 24075: Excision of Soft-Tissue Tumor, Upper Arm/Elbow (<3 cm)

    CPT-24076-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW-SOFT-TISSUE-TUMOR-EXCISION-LESS-THAN-5CM

    CPT 24076: Excision of Subfascial/Intramuscular Tumor, Upper Arm/Elbow (<5 cm)

    CPT-24077-RADICAL-RESECTION-SOFT-TISSUE-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW

    CPT 24077: Radical Resection of Soft-Tissue Tumor, Upper Arm/Elbow

    CPT-24079-RADICAL-RESECTION-SOFT-TISSUE-UPPER-ARM-ELBOW-5CM-PLUS

    CPT 24079: Radical Resection, Soft Tissue Tumor Upper Arm/Elbow

    CPT-24100-ELBOW-JOINT-TISSUE-SAMPLING-DIAGNOSTIC

    CPT 24100: Elbow Synovial Tissue Removal for Diagnostic Evaluation

    CPT-24101-ELBOW-JOINT-EXPLORATION-BIOPSY-REMOVAL-LOOSE-BODY

    CPT 24101: Elbow Arthrotomy for Joint Exploration

    CPT-24102-ELBOW-SYNOVECTOMY-OPEN-SURGICAL-PROCEDURE

    CPT 24102: Open Elbow Synovectomy

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    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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