Summary & Overview
CPT 31300: Laryngeal Tumor or Laryngocele Excision with Cordectomy
CPT code 31300 denotes an open surgical procedure on the larynx involving incision and removal of a tumor or a laryngocele with partial or complete removal of a vocal cord (cordectomy). This procedure is an important component of head and neck surgical care for obstructive or neoplastic laryngeal lesions and has implications for airway management, voice outcomes, and post‑operative rehabilitation. Nationally, services represented by this code are performed in hospital operating rooms and ambulatory surgery centers, with some cases requiring inpatient admission for airway monitoring.
Key payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and which payers are relevant for coverage considerations. The publication outlines benchmarks and payment context where available, summarizes common clinical indications and care setting implications, and highlights policy or reimbursement updates affecting surgical head and neck coding practice. Data not provided in the input are noted as unavailable in the relevant sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31300 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider makes an incision in the larynx (voice box) to remove a tumor or a laryngocele and performs a cordectomy, requiring removal of all or part of a vocal cord. This procedure is a form of open laryngeal surgery focused on excision of focal lesions affecting the vocal cord and surrounding laryngeal structures.
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Service type: Surgical excision (open laryngeal surgery) involving cordectomy and removal of laryngeal mass or laryngocele
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, with possible inpatient stay depending on clinical complexity and airway management needs
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 58-year-old male presents with progressive hoarseness, throat discomfort, and intermittent dyspnea. Laryngoscopic evaluation reveals a mass involving the true vocal cord with suspected malignant transformation and an associated laryngocele. Biopsy under local anesthesia is nondiagnostic or shows dysplasia, and the otolaryngology team schedules definitive surgical management. The planned procedure is a transoral or external cordectomy with excision of the laryngocele or laryngeal tumor, corresponding to 31300. Preoperative workflow includes airway assessment, informed consent for possible tracheostomy, anesthesia evaluation (general anesthesia with endotracheal tube or monitored anesthesia care for select cases), perioperative antibiotics as indicated, and arrangements for intraoperative frozen section pathology if malignancy is suspected. Postoperative care includes airway monitoring, voice rest, pain control, and follow-up for pathology results and potential adjuvant therapy planning.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | When work, time, or complexity substantially exceeds typical for 31300 due to extensive resection or intraoperative complications |