Summary & Overview
CPT 3301F: Adult Cancer Diagnosed as Metastatic (AJCC Classification)
CPT code 3301F is a quality and documentation code used to record that a clinician has diagnosed an adult patient with cancer and classified the disease as metastatic using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. As a structured performance measure, it supports standardized cancer staging documentation and informs clinical decision-making, care coordination, and population health reporting. Nationally, consistent use of 3301F improves clarity around metastatic status across care teams and payers, enabling more accurate tracking of advanced disease and alignment with oncology quality programs.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of how 3301F is used in clinical documentation and staging workflows, benchmarks for reporting adoption where available, and the clinical context that makes metastatic classification important for treatment planning and quality measurement. The material addresses coding purpose and service context rather than reimbursement guidance. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 3301F documents that a provider has diagnosed a patient, 18 years of age or older, with cancer and has reviewed and classified the cancer as metastatic using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification system. This code captures the clinician's determination of the cancer's metastatic status as part of diagnostic and staging documentation.
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Service type: Clinical diagnostic assessment and cancer staging review
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Typical site of service: Oncology clinics, hospital outpatient departments, and other ambulatory care settings where cancer diagnosis and staging consultations occur
Data not available in the input for modifiers, associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service line.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult (≥18 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of malignancy who presents for staging or restaging after initial diagnosis, during treatment, or at recurrence. The oncologist or surgical oncologist reviews pathology, imaging (CT, MRI, PET/CT), and clinical findings to determine whether the cancer is localized or has distant spread. Using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, the provider documents that the cancer is metastatic (M1) and records the primary tumor site, nodal status, and sites of metastasis. Documentation occurs in the clinic or inpatient chart as part of initial staging, treatment planning (systemic therapy, radiation, surgery), or palliative care discussions. Typical sites of service include outpatient oncology clinics, hospital inpatient services, and multidisciplinary tumor board documentation. Clinical workflow: history and physical, review of diagnostic imaging and pathology reports, application of AJCC staging rules, documentation of metastatic classification using 3301F, and incorporation of staging into care plans and coding/billing records.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service | Use when an E/M visit is distinct from the staging assessment documented with 3301F and requires separate billing. |