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    OpenPayerBilling CodesExcision Procedures on the Femur (Thigh Region) and Knee JointCPT cpt-27323-excisional-biopsy-thigh-knee-superficial-soft-tissue
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    CPT 27323: Excisional Biopsy of Superficial Soft Tissue, Thigh or Knee

    Medicare pays $285 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 27323 describes an excisional biopsy in which the provider removes a suspicious superficial soft tissue specimen from the thigh or knee and submits the tissue to a laboratory for pathological analysis; this represents a minor surgical biopsy/excision procedure typically performed in an ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or office-based surgical suite and is billed as a surgical tissue removal service for diagnostic evaluation.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Removal of Implantable, Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Service, Surgical Procedures.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A middle-aged patient presents to an outpatient orthopedic or dermatologic clinic with a 2-cm, firm, superficially located palpable mass on the lateral thigh adjacent to the knee. The mass has been slowly enlarging over several weeks and is mildly tender with occasional catching during flexion. Imaging (ultrasound) performed in clinic characterizes the lesion as a superficial soft-tissue nodule separate from muscle fascia, suspicious for epidermal inclusion cyst, lipoma, benign nerve sheath tumor, or early soft-tissue sarcoma. After discussion of risks and benefits, the provider performs a diagnostic excisional or incisional biopsy of the superficial soft tissue in the thigh/knee region under local anesthesia. A tissue specimen is submitted to the pathology laboratory for histologic evaluation and ancillary testing as indicated. The typical workflow includes pre-procedure consent, local anesthetic infiltration, tissue removal (partial or complete depending on size and location), hemostasis, and wound closure with sutures or adhesive, then specimen labeling and transport to the surgical pathology service for processing and reporting. Typical site of service is an outpatient clinic procedure room or ambulatory surgery center. Service type: minor surgical procedure (superficial soft tissue biopsy/excision).

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11102Tangential biopsy of skin; single lesionPerformed for superficial skin lesions overlying a soft-tissue mass or when sampling epidermal lesions adjacent to the biopsy site.
    11606Excision, malignant lesion including margins, trunk, arms, or legs; excised diameter 1.1 to 2.0 cmUsed when an excisional biopsy reveals or is intended to treat a suspicious malignant skin or subcutaneous lesion requiring wider excision.
    10060Incision and drainage of abscess; simple or singlePerformed when a presumed cystic lesion is infected and requires drainage rather than formal biopsy.
    27320Aspiration or injection, knee or related area (example code for nearby joint procedures)Performed when joint aspiration is required to evaluate periarticular swelling prior to or concurrent with soft-tissue biopsy.
    88305Pathology, surgical; level IV—e.g., biopsy, gross and microscopic examinationRepresents common pathology CPT used for processing and reporting the tissue specimen obtained by the biopsy.

    Related Modifiers

    7 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.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207P00000X
    208000000X
    207W00000X
    207Q00000X
    246ZC0007X
    261QH0700X
    225400000X
    363LG0600X

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: General Surgery1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Removal of ImplantableBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of ServiceUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    Surgical ProceduresUnitedHealthcare2026-09-01
    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
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Inpatient Surgical CareMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-08-01
    Outpatient Surgical Procedures - Site of Servicesierra health and life2026-08-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-27324-DEEP-SOFT-TISSUE-BIOPSY-THIGH-KNEE

    CPT 27324: Deep Tissue/Muscle Biopsy of Thigh or Knee

    CPT-27325-HAMSTRING-NEURECTOMY-NERVE-EXCISION

    CPT 27325: Neurectomy of Nerve Along Hamstring

    CPT-27326-POPLITEAL-GASTROCNEMIUS-NERVE-EXCISION-FOR-SPASM

    CPT 27326: Neurectomy of Popliteal/Gastrocnemius Nerve for Spasm

    CPT-27327-SUBCUTANEOUS-TUMOR-EXCISION-THIGH-KNEE

    CPT 27327: Excision of Subcutaneous Tumor of Thigh or Knee (<3 cm)

    CPT-27328-INTRAMUSCULAR-THIGH-KNEE-TUMOR-EXCISION-SMALL

    CPT 27328: Excision of Intramuscular Tumor of Thigh or Knee (<5 cm)

    CPT-27329-EXTENSIVE-EXCISION-SOFT-TISSUE-TUMOR-THIGH-KNEE-LESS-5CM

    CPT 27329: Extensive Excision of Soft-Tissue Tumor, Thigh/Knee (<5 cm)

    CPT-27330-KNEE-SYNOVIAL-BIOPSY-SURGICAL-DIAGNOSTIC

    CPT 27330: Open Biopsy of Synovium of Knee

    CPT-27331-KNEE-ARTHROTOMY-BIOPSY-LOOSE-BODY-REMOVAL

    CPT 27331: Knee Arthrotomy with Synovial Biopsy and Loose Body Removal

    CPT-27332-KNEE-ARTHROTOMY-MENISCAL-EXCISION

    CPT 27332: Arthrotomy with Excision of Medial or Lateral Meniscus

    CPT-27333-KNEE-PARTIAL-MENISCECTOMY-MEDIAL-AND-LATERAL

    CPT 27333: Meniscectomy, Medial and Lateral Knee

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    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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