Summary & Overview
CPT 31382: Anterovertical Hemilaryngectomy, Partial Laryngectomy
CPT code 31382 represents an anterovertical hemilaryngectomy, a partial laryngectomy in which the anterior commissure is removed and usually one vocal cord and underlying cartilage are excised. This operative code captures a laryngeal resection performed for localized disease processes affecting vocal cord function and airway anatomy and is a key code for surgical otolaryngology and head and neck services nationally.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find clinical context about the procedure and the typical settings where it is performed, along with benchmarking and policy-focused content relevant to nationally applied coverage and coding practices. The publication provides an overview of common billing practices, common modifiers (listed separately), and considerations for surgical service lines that bill for partial laryngectomy procedures.
This summary equips clinical coders, revenue cycle managers, and policy analysts with a concise reference to the code’s clinical meaning, expected sites of service, and the payer landscape represented. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable; the content focuses on national relevance rather than jurisdiction-specific rules.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 31382 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider removes part of the larynx (voice box). In an anterovertical hemilaryngectomy, the provider removes the anterior commissure, typically including one vocal cord and the underlying cartilage.
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Service type: Partial laryngectomy / surgical resection of laryngeal structures
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Typical site of service: Operating room or surgical suite in an inpatient or outpatient hospital setting, depending on clinical indications and patient status
Data not available in the input for payers, associated taxonomies, and ICD-10 diagnoses.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 62-year-old male with a history of progressive hoarseness and an exophytic lesion of the true vocal cord identified on laryngoscopy. Biopsy confirms a T1–T2 glottic squamous cell carcinoma confined to the anterior commissure and one vocal cord. The otolaryngology–head and neck surgeon schedules an anterovertical hemilaryngectomy (CPT 31382) under general anesthesia in an operating room of an ambulatory surgery center or hospital inpatient setting depending on comorbidities and anticipated airway management. Preoperative workflow includes airway assessment, imaging (neck CT or MRI as indicated), preoperative anesthesiology evaluation, informed consent discussing voice outcomes and aspiration risk, and coordination with speech-language pathology for postoperative voice and swallow therapy. Intraoperative steps include direct laryngoscopy, endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy if required, excision of the anterior commissure with the affected vocal cord and underlying cartilage, hemostasis, and possible reconstruction. Postoperative workflow includes monitoring in recovery or inpatient unit, airway observation, initiation of swallow precautions, early involvement of speech-language pathology, pathology review of margins, and scheduling of adjuvant treatment (radiation) when indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | Procedure performed at a non-designated site (placeholder; payer-specific) |