Summary & Overview
CPT 24150: Excision of Shaft or Distal Humerus, With Surrounding Tissue
CPT code 24150 represents surgical excision of the shaft or distal humerus with surrounding soft tissues to remove an abnormal growth, mass, or tumor. This operative procedure is relevant to orthopedic and surgical oncology practices and is billed for cases requiring removal of bony lesions or soft-tissue masses involving the humerus. Nationally, the code matters because it captures resource use for complex limb-preserving resections and factors into payment, utilization monitoring, and quality measurement for upper-extremity surgical care.
Key payers covered in the analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and typical sites of service, plus benchmarks and billing considerations where available. The publication outlines expected service settings, common clinical indications for humeral excision, and payer coverage patterns affecting authorization and reimbursement workflows. It also highlights coding relationships and related procedural considerations that affect claim processing.
This summary equips clinicians, coders, and practice managers with a clear depiction of what CPT code 24150 denotes, why it is used, and the practical policy and billing topics to review when preparing claims or evaluating utilization at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 24150 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider excises the shaft or distal humerus with surrounding tissues to remove an abnormal growth, mass, or tumor. This service involves surgical removal of bony and adjacent soft tissue structures of the humeral shaft or distal humerus.
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Service type: Surgical excision of bone and surrounding soft tissue for removal of abnormal growth
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, depending on clinical complexity and patient condition
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male presents with a progressively enlarging, palpable mass on the lateral aspect of the distal humerus causing pain, limited elbow range of motion, and intermittent neurovascular symptoms. Imaging (plain radiographs and MRI) demonstrates a well-circumscribed soft-tissue tumor adherent to the distal humeral shaft without gross bone destruction. The orthopedic oncologist schedules an excisional resection of the distal humerus shaft mass to obtain tissue diagnosis and relieve symptoms.
Preoperative workflow includes focused history and physical, imaging review, preoperative anesthesia assessment, informed consent with discussion of risks including bleeding, infection, neurovascular injury, and possible need for open reduction/internal fixation or reconstruction. Intraoperative steps include localization of the mass, careful dissection with protection of the radial and ulnar nerves and brachial artery, excision of the lesion with surrounding soft tissue margins, hemostasis, possible frozen section pathology, and placement of drains if indicated. Postoperative care involves pain control, wound checks, pathology review, and initiation of rehabilitation as indicated by the extent of soft-tissue resection and bone involvement. Billing uses 24150 for excision of the shaft or distal humerus with surrounding tissues.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services |