CPT 30160: Partial Rhinectomy (Partial Removal of Nose) - OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 30160: Partial Rhinectomy (Partial Removal of Nose)

CPT code 30160 denotes a partial rhinectomy — the surgical removal of part of the external nose. This procedure is clinically significant for management of traumatic injury, malignant or premalignant lesions, and select reconstructive indications. Nationally, codes for nasal resection carry implications for surgical resource utilization, facility planning, and postoperative reconstructive needs.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The publication outlines what readers will learn about typical settings and service definitions, payer coverage considerations, common modifier usage, and areas where input data is missing. Readers will also find clinical context that clarifies when a partial rhinectomy is distinct from a total rhinectomy and how site-of-service (hospital OR or ambulatory surgical center) affects care pathways.

This summary informs clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts about the procedural definition and practical coverage landscape for CPT code 30160, highlights relevant billing considerations, and flags where additional data are required for benchmarking or payer-specific policy interpretation.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 30160partial rhinectomynasal surgerysurgical procedureENT surgeryambulatory surgeryhospital operating roomprocedure codingsurgical billing

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 30160 describes surgical removal of part of the nose, commonly termed a partial rhinectomy. The description distinguishes this procedure from a total rhinectomy, which entails removal of the entire external nose including soft tissue.

Service type: Surgical excision of nasal structures (partial rhinectomy)
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center (outpatient or inpatient surgical setting)

Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, and related codes.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is a 68-year-old with a biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the external nose involving the lower lateral cartilages and adjacent skin with recurrent disease after prior Mohs excision. The patient presents for preoperative evaluation in otolaryngology or facial plastic surgery clinic, with review of imaging (CT facial bones or MRI if deep tissue involvement suspected), discussion of oncologic margins, and reconstruction options. On the day of surgery the patient undergoes general anesthesia; the surgical team performs a partial rhinectomy (removal of part of the external nose) to achieve clear margins. Hemostasis is secured, specimens are submitted to pathology with laterality and site documented, and immediate or staged reconstruction (local flap, regional flap, or prosthetic planning) is coordinated with plastic surgery as needed. Typical site of service is an ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room with expected postoperative monitoring and wound care instructions, pathology follow-up, and postoperative visits for wound check and reconstruction planning.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`11`	Normal or routine service	Use when the procedure is performed as planned without complications.
`22`

CPT 30110: Nasal Polyp Removal (Nasal Polypectomy)

cpt-30120-rhinophyma-excision-nasal-skin

CPT 30120: Excision/Abrasion of Diseased Nasal Skin (Rhinophyma)

cpt-30130-inferior-turbinate-excision-nasal-airway-obstruction

CPT 30130: Excision of Inferior Turbinate

cpt-30150-partial-rhinectomy-surgical-removal-nose

CPT 30150: Partial Rhinectomy, Surgical Removal of Part of the Nose

cpt-30124-dermoid-cyst-excision-nasal-subcutaneous

CPT 30124: Dermoid Cyst Excision, Nasal Subcutaneous Tissue

cpt-30117-internal-nasal-lesion-excision-destruction

CPT 30117: Internal Excision or Destruction of Nasal Lesion

cpt-30115-nasal-polyp-snare-removal-electrocautery

CPT 30115: Removal of Complicated Nasal Polyp(s) with Snare Electrocautery

cpt-30140-inferior-turbinate-submucous-resection

CPT 30140: Submucous Resection of Inferior Turbinate

cpt-30125-nasal-deep-dermoid-cyst-excision

CPT 30125: Excision of Deep Nasal Dermoid Cyst

cpt-30100-nasal-biopsy-intranasal-tissue-sampling

CPT 30100: Intranasal Biopsy for Tissue Diagnosis

Showing 1–10 of 11

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207P00000X	Otolaryngology	Common specialty performing oncologic nasal resections and airway management.
208C00000X	Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery	Performs complex reconstruction of nasal defects post-resection.
207K00000X	Facial Plastic Surgery	Subspecialty of ENT focused on facial reconstruction and nasal procedures.
208000000X	General Surgery	May be involved in head and neck oncologic resections in some settings.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C44.39`	Other malignant neoplasm of skin of other and unspecified parts of face	Common diagnosis for cutaneous malignancies of the nose requiring partial rhinectomy.
`C44.219`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of other part of face	Squamous cell carcinoma on the external nose is a frequent indication for partial rhinectomy.
`C44.31`	Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face	Basal cell carcinoma with deep or extensive involvement may require partial rhinectomy.
`C31.9`	Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity, unspecified	Invasive nasal cavity tumors involving external nose structures may necessitate partial rhinectomy.
`D04.9`	Carcinoma in situ of skin, unspecified	Extensive or multifocal in situ disease of the nose can lead to surgical excision including partial rhinectomy.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`30930`	Submucous resection, inferior turbinate, partial or complete, any method	May be performed concurrently to improve intranasal airway during nasal resections or reconstruction.
`15730`	Pedicle graft or flap; island flap	Used for reconstruction of external nasal defects following partial rhinectomy.
`15732`	Free flap with microvascular anastomosis	Employed for larger nasal and midface defects requiring tissue transfer after oncologic resection.
`88305`	Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination	Typical pathology charge for examination of tumor specimens removed during rhinectomy.
`31365`	Excision of nasal vestibular mass (partial resections)	May represent smaller resections of nasal lesions; relevant for differential procedural coding.

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