Summary & Overview
CPT 28171: Radical Resection of Tarsal Bone for Tumor
CPT code 28171 denotes a radical surgical resection of a tarsal bone with surrounding tissue to remove a tumor, most often performed for malignant lesions. This procedure is clinically significant because it is a definitive oncologic surgery that aims to achieve wide local margins to minimize residual disease and guide subsequent management, including reconstructive needs and adjuvant therapy.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise national overview of clinical context and service delivery for CPT code 28171, including where the procedure is typically performed and why accurate coding matters for care coordination and claims processing. The publication provides benchmarks and comparative policy elements relevant to major payers, summaries of coding considerations, and implications for facility and professional billing workflows. It also outlines typical clinical indications and the procedural setting to help payers and providers align on documentation expectations.
Data not available in the input is noted where applicable; the focus remains on national policy relevance, common payer considerations, and the clinical role of this radical tarsal resection procedure.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 28171 describes a radical resection of a tarsal bone and surrounding tissue performed to remove a tumor. The procedure involves surgical removal of the affected tarsal bone with a wide margin of surrounding tissue, typically undertaken for malignant tumors to reduce the risk of residual malignant tissue.
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Service type: Surgical oncology/orthopedic oncology procedure
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old patient presents with a progressively enlarging, painful mass localized to the dorsal midfoot overlying the tarsal bones. Imaging with foot radiographs and MRI demonstrates a lesion centered in the talus with cortical destruction and soft-tissue extension; biopsy confirms a malignant primary bone tumor (e.g., chondrosarcoma). After multidisciplinary review, the orthopedic oncology surgeon schedules a radical resection of the affected tarsal bone with wide margins to achieve local tumor control. The typical clinical workflow includes preoperative staging and imaging, pre-anesthesia evaluation, informed consent, intraoperative tumor resection (removal of the involved tarsal bone and surrounding tissue), possible intraoperative frozen section to confirm margins, reconstruction or stabilization as indicated (internal fixation, bone grafting, or soft-tissue coverage), postoperative pain control and wound care, and outpatient follow-up with pathology review and oncology for adjuvant therapy planning. Typical site of service is an inpatient hospital operating room or an ambulatory surgical center when clinically appropriate; anesthesia is commonly general, with regional blocks used adjunctively. Procedure coding reflects radical resection of a tarsal bone for tumor removal with reporting of appropriate modifiers for laterality, professional component, or unusual procedural circumstances.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | When the procedure is performed on the patient's left tarsal bone |