Summary & Overview
CPT 25075: Excision of Subcutaneous Forearm or Wrist Mass, ≤3 cm
CPT code 25075 denotes the surgical excision of an abnormal subcutaneous mass of the forearm or wrist measuring 3 cm or less, with submission of the specimen for laboratory analysis. This code captures a common minor surgical procedure performed across outpatient and office settings to establish diagnosis and guide subsequent management. Nationally, accurate use of this CPT code affects provider documentation, surgical case mix reporting, and appropriate claims processing for minor soft-tissue excisions.
Key payers typically referenced in analyses of this code include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers can expect an overview of clinical context for when 25075 is applicable, common sites of service, and the implications for billing workflows. The publication outlines benchmarks for utilization, typical payer coverage patterns, and documentation elements that support coding accuracy. It also highlights policy considerations tied to outpatient surgical coding and specimen submission for pathology.
This summary is intended for clinicians, coding professionals, and policy analysts seeking concise guidance on the clinical scope and billing relevance of CPT code 25075, including how it is commonly applied across ambulatory surgical centers, hospital outpatient departments, and office-based procedure settings.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 25075 describes the excision of an abnormal subcutaneous mass of the forearm or wrist, with submission of a specimen 3 cm or less in greatest dimension for laboratory analysis. The procedure involves removal of an abnormal palpable or visible mass located immediately below the skin in the forearm or wrist region to determine pathology.
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Service type: Minor surgical excision of a subcutaneous mass
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital outpatient department, and physician office-based procedure rooms when appropriate
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 45-year-old patient presents to an outpatient ambulatory surgery center with a 2-cm, firm, mobile subcutaneous mass on the dorsal forearm that has slowly increased in size and occasionally becomes tender. After clinical evaluation by an orthopedic or general surgery clinician, the plan is excision of the lesion under local anesthesia with or without monitored anesthesia care. The procedure includes incision through skin, dissection of the subcutaneous tissue, removal of the mass (specimen ≤3 cm), hemostasis, and layered closure. The specimen is submitted to an anatomic pathology laboratory for gross and microscopic analysis to determine diagnosis (eg, epidermal inclusion cyst, lipoma, benign adnexal tumor, or suspicious lesion). Typical workflow steps: preoperative consent and marking in clinic; verification of site and patient identification on day of procedure; local anesthetic administration in procedure room; sterile prep and drape; surgical excision with specimen handling and labeling; wound closure; postoperative recovery and discharge with wound care instructions. Typical site of service is an outpatient procedure room, ambulatory surgery center, or physician office procedure suite. Typical service type is minor surgical excision of a subcutaneous mass (simple excision, outpatient).
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | Use when the procedure is performed on the left forearm/wrist |