Summary & Overview
CPT 50340: Nephrectomy, Kidney Removal
CPT code 50340 represents nephrectomy, the surgical removal of a kidney or part of a kidney, a high-impact procedure in urologic and oncologic care. Nationally, nephrectomy is performed for indications such as renal tumors, severe trauma, infection, and nonfunctional kidneys; it carries implications for inpatient surgical capacity, perioperative risk management, and post-operative care pathways. Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise clinical and billing overview of CPT code 50340, including the typical service setting (hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center) and the surgical service line. The report outlines payer coverage considerations, commonly observed modifiers, and where available, benchmark metrics and policy considerations that affect authorization and payment for nephrectomy. The summary highlights clinical context for billing, common procedural scenarios, and administrative factors that influence claim processing and reimbursement for this major urologic surgery.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, ICD-10 diagnoses, related codes, and service line specifics.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 50340 describes nephrectomy, a surgical procedure for removal of a kidney or part of a kidney. This procedure involves excision of renal tissue and may be performed for indications such as malignancy, severe trauma, uncontrolled infection, or nonfunctional kidney.
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Service type: Surgical procedure
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Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or ambulatory surgical center, depending on clinical complexity and patient status.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 62-year-old male with a 3-month history of flank pain and hematuria is diagnosed with a 6.5 cm enhancing mass in the right kidney on contrast CT scan consistent with renal cell carcinoma. After staging shows no metastatic disease, the urologic surgeon schedules a right radical nephrectomy to remove the entire kidney and perinephric fat. The typical clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (history, physical, labs including CBC/chemistry, coagulation studies), anesthesia assessment, informed consent with discussion of risks and benefits, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, intraoperative removal of the kidney via an open or laparoscopic approach, specimen submission to pathology, postoperative monitoring for hemodynamic stability and urine output from the contralateral kidney, pain control, DVT prophylaxis, and discharge planning with follow-up for pathology results and surveillance.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
50 | Bilateral procedure | When nephrectomies are performed on both kidneys during the same operative session |
51 | Multiple procedures | When nephrectomy is billed with additional distinct surgical procedures performed at the same session |
52 | Reduced services | When the nephrectomy is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned |
53 | Discontinued procedure | When the nephrectomy is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances or patient safety |
62 | Two surgeons | When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons on separate critical portions of the nephrectomy |
63 | Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg | Rarely applicable; used if patient meets weight criterion (infant cases) |
66 | Surgical team concept | When a surgical team provides the nephrectomy and team billing rules apply |
78 | Return to OR for related procedure during global period | When the patient returns to the operating room for a related complication during the global period (e.g., hemorrhage) |
79 | (Not in provided list) | Data not available in the input |
80 | Assistant surgeon | When an assistant surgeon provides assistance during the nephrectomy |
81 | Minimum assistant surgeon | When a minimal assistant participates in the procedure |
82 | Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident not available) | When the assistant is used because no qualified resident is available |
AS | Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery | When an advanced practice clinician serves as assistant at surgery per payer rules |
22 | Increased procedural services | When the nephrectomy requires substantially greater work than typical (e.g., extensive adhesiolysis) |
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2080S0001X | Urology | Urologists most commonly perform nephrectomy procedures |
| 207L00000X | General Surgery | General surgeons may perform nephrectomy in some centers, especially oncologic or trauma settings |
| 2080P0201X | Pediatric Urology | Pediatric urologists perform nephrectomy in children when indicated |
| 207RX0400X | Surgical Oncology | Surgical oncologists may perform nephrectomy for renal malignancies |
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
C64.1 | Malignant neoplasm of right kidney, except renal pelvis | Primary indication for radical nephrectomy when tumor is localized to the kidney |
C64.2 | Malignant neoplasm of left kidney, except renal pelvis | Indicates left-sided renal malignancy requiring nephrectomy |
N28.9 | Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified | Used when a specific renal disorder prompting nephrectomy is not otherwise classified |
N20.1 | Calculus of kidney | Large, non-salvageable obstructing calculi with loss of renal function may prompt nephrectomy in select cases |
S37.039A | Injury of kidney, unspecified, initial encounter | Traumatic renal injury with severe damage may require nephrectomy |
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
50590 | Ureterolithotomy; pyelolithotomy; extraction of stone from renal pelvis or calyces (separate procedure) | May be performed prior to or instead of nephrectomy when stones are source of obstruction; not typical with radical nephrectomy but listed as related renal surgery |
50220 | Nephroureterectomy, including partial cystectomy; for renal pelvic tumor (radical) | Related oncologic procedure when tumor involves renal pelvis and ureter; may be combined or selected instead of 50340 depending on tumor extent |
50335 | Nephrectomy, partial, including cortical wedge resection (partial nephrectomy) | Performed when nephron-sparing surgery is indicated for smaller renal masses; alternative to radical nephrectomy represented by 50340 |
47562 | Laparoscopy, surgical; nephrectomy (including partial nephrectomy), morcellation if performed | Represents laparoscopic approach codes often used for minimally invasive nephrectomy procedures related to 50340 which is an open code |
99223 | Initial hospital care, typically 70 minutes or more | Common inpatient E/M for preoperative or postoperative management of a complex patient undergoing nephrectomy |