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    OpenPayerBilling CodesExcision Procedures on the Femur (Thigh Region) and Knee JointCPT cpt-27324-deep-soft-tissue-biopsy-thigh-knee
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    CPT 27324: Deep Tissue/Muscle Biopsy of Thigh or Knee

    Medicare pays $411 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 27324 describes an open or incisional biopsy in which the provider removes a sample of suspicious tissue located beneath the fascia or within the muscle of the thigh or knee for pathologic analysis; this is a surgical tissue biopsy procedure (soft tissue/muscle biopsy) typically performed in an operating room or procedure suite as an ambulatory or inpatient surgical service and the specimen is submitted to a laboratory 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 52-year-old patient presents to an orthopedic clinic with a progressively enlarging, painful mass deep in the anterior thigh that became more prominent over several weeks. The orthopedic surgeon obtains MRI imaging demonstrating a 4.5 cm intramuscular lesion suspicious for sarcoma versus benign soft-tissue tumor. After discussion in multidisciplinary conference, the patient is scheduled for an image-guided open core biopsy performed in the ambulatory surgery center. Under general or regional anesthesia the surgeon makes a small incision, dissects down through subcutaneous tissue and fascia, and obtains multiple core tissue samples from within the muscle for submission to anatomic pathology and microbiology as indicated. Hemostasis is achieved, the wound is irrigated and closed, and the specimen is sent fresh and in formalin for histologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular testing. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgery center or hospital outpatient department. The service type is a deep (below fascia) or intramuscular biopsy of the thigh/knee with specimen submission for laboratory analysis. Typical clinical workflow includes preoperative imaging review, informed consent, sterile biopsy procedure, specimen labeling and routing to laboratory, and postoperative wound care and pathology follow-up.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    27324Biopsy, deep intramuscular (e.g., thigh, knee); incisional or core, with core(s) submitted for pathological examinationPrimary procedure: removal of tissue sample below the fascia or within muscle for histologic analysis.
    20220Biopsy, soft tissue of head or neck; deep, incisional or excisional (including image guidance, when performed)Alternative deep soft-tissue biopsy code used for non-extremity sites; included for cross-reference in tumor clinics.
    20610Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection; major joint or bursa (e.g., shoulder, hip, knee)May be performed in the same encounter if joint effusion evaluation or aspiration is needed in the knee.
    73030Radiologic examination, soft tissue, one or two views; thigh or femurPre-procedure radiographs often obtained for localization and surgical planning.
    77012CT guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device), imaging supervision and interpretationUsed when image guidance with CT is employed to localize and obtain deep intramuscular core samples.
    76942Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (eg, biopsy, aspiration, injection, localization device), imaging supervision and interpretationUsed when ultrasound guidance assists needle or core biopsy of intramuscular lesions.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207X00000X
    2080P0207X
    207K00000X
    207L00000X
    261QM1300X
    311500000X
    376K00000X
    374T00000X

    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-27323-EXCISIONAL-BIOPSY-THIGH-KNEE-SUPERFICIAL-SOFT-TISSUE

    CPT 27323: Excisional Biopsy of Superficial Soft Tissue, 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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