CPT 38571 Laparoscopic Pelvic Lymphadenectomy Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 38571: Laparoscopic Bilateral Pelvic Lymphadenectomy

CPT code 38571 represents a laparoscopic bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy: a minimally invasive surgical procedure to visualize and remove pelvic lymph nodes on both sides of the pelvis. Nationally, this code is used in oncologic surgical management to stage and reduce the risk of regional nodal metastasis for pelvic malignancies. It is clinically significant because lymph node status guides adjuvant therapy decisions and prognostic assessment.

Payers included in the analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical settings of service, common billing modifiers, and payer coverage patterns. The publication outlines benchmark metrics where available, summarizes relevant policy and coding considerations affecting reimbursement and claim adjudication, and highlights operational implications for surgical services and revenue cycle teams.

The content is designed for a national audience of clinicians, coding professionals, and healthcare administrators seeking clarity on clinical intent, billing practice, and payer coverage themes for CPT code 38571. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare38571CPTlaparoscopicpelvic lymphadenectomysurgical oncologylaparoscopyoperating roomlymph node dissection

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 38571 describes a laparoscopic bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. The procedure involves making small incisions in the abdomen, inserting a camera (laparoscope) to visualize the pelvic lymph nodes, and excising all lymph nodes on both sides of the pelvis to remove diseased nodes and reduce the risk of cancer spread.

Service type: Surgical procedure — laparoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection
Typical site of service: Inpatient or outpatient surgical setting; most commonly performed in an operating room with laparoscopic equipment

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 58-year-old woman with high-grade endometrial carcinoma is referred for surgical staging. Preoperative imaging shows a uterine mass without clear distant metastasis but with possible pelvic nodal involvement. The gynecologic oncology team schedules a minimally invasive bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy via laparoscopy to remove and pathologically evaluate pelvic lymph nodes for staging and to guide adjuvant therapy.

The clinical workflow: preoperative evaluation in the clinic with review of pathology and imaging, informed consent documenting indications and alternatives, general anesthesia in an operating room, placement of laparoscopic ports, inspection of the abdomen and pelvis with a camera, dissection and removal of all pelvic lymphatic tissue bilaterally, hemostasis, specimen labeling and send to pathology, closure of port sites, postoperative recovery unit monitoring, and discharge instructions with pathology follow-up and oncology coordination.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when procedure is performed on both pelvic sides; often inherent in bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy but some payors require modifier for bilateral claims.
`51`

CPT 38570: Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Sampling

CPT-38572-LAPAROSCOPIC-PELVIC-AORTIC-LYMPHADENECTOMY

CPT 38572: Laparoscopic Pelvic and Aortic Lymphadenectomy

CPT-38573-PELVIC-AORTIC-LYMPHADENECTOMY-OMENTECTOMY-MINIMALLY-INVASIVE

CPT 38573: Pelvic and Aortic Lymphadenectomy with Omentectomy, Minimally Invasive

CPT-38589-LYMPHATIC-SYSTEM-UNLISTED-PROCEDURE

CPT 38589: Unlisted Procedure, Lymphatic System

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207V00000X`	Obstetrics & Gynecology	Gynecologic oncologists commonly perform laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy.
`2080P0222X`	Surgery	General surgeons may perform pelvic lymphadenectomy in non-gynecologic pelvic malignancies.
`2085R0202X`	Surgical Oncology	Surgical oncologists perform nodal dissections as part of cancer staging and treatment.
`207L00000X`	Gynecologic Oncology	Subspecialists specifically trained in oncologic gynecologic surgery perform this procedure.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C54.1`	Malignant neoplasm of endometrium	Pelvic lymphadenectomy is performed for staging and to assess nodal metastasis in endometrial cancer.
`C53.9`	Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified	Surgical staging for cervical cancer can include pelvic lymph node removal.
`C56.9`	Malignant neoplasm of ovary, unspecified	Pelvic nodal assessment may be performed during surgical management of ovarian cancer.
`C77.4`	Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of pelvic lymph node	Indicates known nodal metastasis prompting therapeutic lymphadenectomy.
`N83.2`	Torsion of ovary, ovarian pedicle	Not a typical indication for lymphadenectomy but may appear as a concurrent pelvic surgical condition; included only when lymph node evaluation is clinically indicated.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`58720`	Laparoscopy, surgical; with total hysterectomy, for uterus 250 g or less, with removal of tube(s) and/or ovary(s)	Often performed concurrently when pelvic lymphadenectomy is part of staging for endometrial or cervical cancer.
`58558`	Laparoscopy, surgical, with total hysterectomy, for uterus larger than 250 g; with or without removal of tube(s), with or without removal of ovary(s)	Alternative hysterectomy code used when uterus size exceeds thresholds; may accompany lymphadenectomy.
`38571`	Laparoscopy, surgical; pelvic lymphadenectomy, unilateral or bilateral (this code)	Primary code for removal of pelvic lymph nodes via laparoscopy for staging or therapeutic reasons.
`38999`	Unlisted procedure, hemic or regional lymph node surgery	Used only when anatomic extent or approach does not match standard codes; rarely used when procedures are atypical.
`76942`	Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement (e.g., for biopsy)	May be used preoperatively for targeted lymph node biopsy or intraoperative assistance in select cases.
`99024`	Postoperative follow-up visit, related to the recovery from the procedure during the global period	Used for routine postoperative visits during the global surgical period.

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