Summary & Overview
CPT 3388F: Colon Cancer Diagnosis, Stage III
CPT code 3388F denotes a documented diagnosis of colon cancer in adults (18+), specified as stage III — tumor invasion with regional lymph node involvement. As a diagnosis-specific CPT Category II-style numeric code (note: this is a CPT-coded descriptor), it captures clinical staging information important for oncology care coordination, performance measurement, and quality reporting. Nationally, standardized capture of cancer stage supports treatment planning, multidisciplinary care, and alignment with oncology quality metrics.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the code’s clinical meaning, expected service settings, and the kinds of documentation items tied to this entry. The publication outlines how 3388F fits into oncology documentation workflows and what stakeholders typically examine when reviewing claims and clinical records.
This summary provides benchmarks and policy-context topics relevant to coding accuracy, staging documentation, and payer expectations. It also highlights clinical context for stage III colon cancer that informs service lines and typical sites of care. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 3388F documents a diagnosis of colon cancer in a patient 18 years of age or older, explicitly recorded as stage III. The description indicates the tumor invades any layer of the colon, may extend to other organs or structures, and includes regional lymph node involvement.
Service type: Diagnostic and cancer staging documentation / Oncology diagnosis coding
Typical site of service: Oncology clinic, hospital inpatient ward, or outpatient specialty clinic
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult aged 18 years or older who presents to a colorectal surgery clinic after a diagnostic workup (colonoscopy with biopsy and staging CT scans) confirms colon adenocarcinoma with regional lymph node involvement consistent with stage III disease. The clinical workflow includes preoperative oncology evaluation, multidisciplinary tumor board review, staging with CT chest/abdomen/pelvis and possible PET CT, and discussion of neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy with medical oncology. Surgical planning includes consent for colectomy (right, left, or sigmoid depending on tumor location) with regional lymphadenectomy. The provider documents the diagnosis as stage III colon cancer in the medical record, including tumor invasion depth, nodal status, and planned surgical and oncologic management. Typical site of service is an outpatient specialty clinic for diagnosis and staging documentation and an inpatient surgical setting for definitive resection; preoperative visits, surgical consent, and coordination with medical oncology are part of the workflow.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
24 | Unrelated evaluation and management service by the same physician during a postoperative period | Use if a separate E/M visit occurs for a condition unrelated to the colon cancer procedure during the global period. |
25 |