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CPT 55520: Spermatic Cord Excision for Scrotal Pain or Fertility Restoration

CPT code 55520 denotes a surgical excision of diseased or damaged tissue from the spermatic cord within the scrotum, performed to alleviate pain or restore fertility. Nationally, this code captures a focused urologic procedure relevant to surgeons, hospitals, and payers managing male reproductive and scrotal surgical care. Proper coding of 55520 affects procedure reporting, facility billing, and clinical case mix classification for urologic surgical services.

Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Coverage and utilization patterns among these payers influence prior authorization practices, setting of care (ambulatory surgical center versus hospital), and reimbursement frameworks for scrotal and spermatic cord procedures.

Readers will gain a concise overview of the clinical context for 55520, common sites of service, and the role this procedure plays in managing scrotal pain and fertility-related pathology. The publication provides benchmarks and policy-relevant observations about payer coverage and billing practice variations, summaries of applicable modifiers and coding considerations where available, and clinical context to help payers and providers align coding with care delivery. Data not available in the input will be indicated where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 55520 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider removes diseased or damaged tissue from the spermatic cord within the scrotum to relieve pain or discomfort and/or to restore fertility. This procedure involves excision of pathological tissue in the spermatic cord while the testicles remain in the scrotal sac.

Service type: Surgical procedure, scrotal/spermatic cord exploration and excision
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room, performed under regional or general anesthesia

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CPT 55520: Spermatic Cord Excision for Scrotal Pain or Fertility Restoration

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical procedure, scrotal/spermatic cord exploration and excision
Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room, performed under regional or general anesthesia

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old man presents with chronic left scrotal pain and palpable fullness after a history of varicocele and prior inguinal surgery. Conservative measures including scrotal support, NSAIDs, and a brief trial of antibiotics and activity modification have failed. Scrotal ultrasound confirms a dilated pampiniform plexus and abnormal spermatic cord morphology consistent with symptomatic varicocele and presumed damaged cord tissue contributing to pain and impaired spermatogenesis. The urologist discusses surgical options and schedules a targeted scrotal exploration with excision of diseased or damaged spermatic cord tissue (CPT 55520) under general anesthesia.

Preoperative workflow: history and physical, informed consent for spermatic cord surgery, review of prior surgical records and ultrasound, pre-op labs as indicated, anesthesia evaluation. Intraoperative workflow: scrotal incision, isolation of the spermatic cord structures, excision of diseased cord tissue while preserving testicular blood supply and vas deferens where possible, hemostasis, irrigation, and layered closure. Postoperative workflow: recovery room monitoring, pain control, scrotal support, instructions for activity restriction, follow-up for wound check and assessment of pain resolution and fertility outcomes.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When the spermatic cord tissue is excised on both sides during the same operative session.
`LT`	Left side	When the procedure is performed on the left spermatic cord only.
`RT`	Right side	When the procedure is performed on the right spermatic cord only.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When another major unrelated procedure is performed during the same session and needs separation from `CPT 55520`.
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons perform distinct portions of the procedure requiring reporting for concurrent surgeon services.
`66`	Surgical team	When a surgical team approach is used for a complex case requiring team reporting.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially performed or abbreviated resulting in reduced service relative to full `CPT 55520`.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances before completion.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work required is substantially greater than typical for `CPT 55520` and documentation supports unusual effort.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician (not in input list)	Data not available in the input.
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the professional component of a service that has separate technical and professional components (rarely applicable to this operative code).
`51`	Multiple procedures	When multiple distinct procedures are performed during the same operative session in addition to `CPT 55520`.
`52`	Reduced services	When services are partially reduced (duplicate entry avoided in practice; listed once above).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Listed above; included for completeness in operative contingencies.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.
3336C0001X*	Urology	Urologists most commonly perform scrotal and spermatic cord procedures.
208800000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with genitourinary experience may perform cord explorations.
363L00000X	Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility	REI specialists may be involved when fertility restoration is an indication.
2080S0001X	Pediatric Urology	Pediatric urologists perform similar cord procedures in adolescents.

*Note: The first three taxonomy rows are illustrative specialties commonly associated with this procedure.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`N28.89`	Other specified disorders of kidney and ureter	May be used when scrotal or cord pathology is classified under other specified genitourinary conditions when no more specific code applies.
`N50.1`	Hydrocele, acquired	Hydrocele can coexist with spermatic cord pathology and may be addressed during exploration.
`N50.2`	Other inflammatory diseases of male genital organs	Epididymitis or orchitis may be part of the differential and influence management.
`N48.4`	Other female genital prolapse (not applicable)	Data not available in the input.
`I83.9`	Varicose veins of lower extremity, unspecified (not directly applicable)	Data not available in the input.

Note: Data for ICD-10 codes was not provided in the input; standard, specific codes commonly used for spermatic cord disease include N50.0 (testicular hydrocele), N50.8 (other disorders of male genital organs), and codes for varicocele I86.1. If exact listing of ICD-10s from the input is required, the input did not contain explicit diagnosis codes.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`55520`	Excision of spermatic cord for pain or infertility — (primary procedure described)	Primary operative code for removal of diseased or damaged spermatic cord tissue.
`55250`	Spermatocele excision or excision of epididymal cyst	May be performed at the same session if an epididymal cyst or spermatocele is identified and contributes to symptoms.
`54840`	Repair of indirect inguinal hernia in adults with mesh (open)	May be performed before or during scrotal exploration if a hernia is present or previously repaired pathology relates to symptoms.
`54150`	Circumcision, surgical; newborn or older child/adult	Unrelated to cord excision but occasionally performed in the same operative episode for other indications (rare).
`54520`	Epididymectomy, unilateral	Performed when epididymal disease is the dominant source of pain and may be combined with cord excision depending on intraoperative findings.
`54300`	Repair of torsion of testis (detorsion and fixation)	Emergent procedure for torsion; may be in differential workflow if testicular ischemia is a concern prior to elective cord surgery.

CPT 55500: Excision of Spermatocele from Spermatic Cord

CPT-55530-SCROTAL-EXCISION-VARICOCELE-SPERMATIC-VEIN

CPT 55530: Scrotal Excision of Enlarged Spermatic Veins (Varicocele)

CPT-55535-ABDOMINAL-VARICOCELE-REPAIR-LIGATION-SPERMATIC-VEINS

CPT 55535: Abdominal Varicocele Repair with Spermatic Vein Ligation

CPT-55540-VARICOCELE-EXCISION-LIGATION-HERNIA-REPAIR

CPT 55540: Excision or Ligation of Spermatic Veins for Varicocele

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When the spermatic cord tissue is excised on both sides during the same operative session.
`LT`	Left side	When the procedure is performed on the left spermatic cord only.
`RT`	Right side	When the procedure is performed on the right spermatic cord only.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When another major unrelated procedure is performed during the same session and needs separation from `CPT 55520`.
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons perform distinct portions of the procedure requiring reporting for concurrent surgeon services.
`66`	Surgical team	When a surgical team approach is used for a complex case requiring team reporting.
`52`	Reduced services	When the procedure is partially performed or abbreviated resulting in reduced service relative to full `CPT 55520`.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances before completion.
`22`	Increased procedural services	When work required is substantially greater than typical for `CPT 55520` and documentation supports unusual effort.
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician (not in input list)	Data not available in the input.
`26`	Professional component	When reporting only the professional component of a service that has separate technical and professional components (rarely applicable to this operative code).
`51`	Multiple procedures	When multiple distinct procedures are performed during the same operative session in addition to `CPT 55520`.
`52`	Reduced services	When services are partially reduced (duplicate entry avoided in practice; listed once above).
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Listed above; included for completeness in operative contingencies.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.	Data not available in the input.
3336C0001X*	Urology	Urologists most commonly perform scrotal and spermatic cord procedures.
208800000X	General Surgery	General surgeons with genitourinary experience may perform cord explorations.
363L00000X	Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility	REI specialists may be involved when fertility restoration is an indication.
2080S0001X	Pediatric Urology	Pediatric urologists perform similar cord procedures in adolescents.

*Note: The first three taxonomy rows are illustrative specialties commonly associated with this procedure.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`N28.89`	Other specified disorders of kidney and ureter	May be used when scrotal or cord pathology is classified under other specified genitourinary conditions when no more specific code applies.
`N50.1`	Hydrocele, acquired	Hydrocele can coexist with spermatic cord pathology and may be addressed during exploration.
`N50.2`	Other inflammatory diseases of male genital organs	Epididymitis or orchitis may be part of the differential and influence management.
`N48.4`	Other female genital prolapse (not applicable)	Data not available in the input.
`I83.9`	Varicose veins of lower extremity, unspecified (not directly applicable)	Data not available in the input.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`55520`	Excision of spermatic cord for pain or infertility — (primary procedure described)	Primary operative code for removal of diseased or damaged spermatic cord tissue.
`55250`	Spermatocele excision or excision of epididymal cyst	May be performed at the same session if an epididymal cyst or spermatocele is identified and contributes to symptoms.
`54840`	Repair of indirect inguinal hernia in adults with mesh (open)	May be performed before or during scrotal exploration if a hernia is present or previously repaired pathology relates to symptoms.
`54150`	Circumcision, surgical; newborn or older child/adult	Unrelated to cord excision but occasionally performed in the same operative episode for other indications (rare).
`54520`	Epididymectomy, unilateral	Performed when epididymal disease is the dominant source of pain and may be combined with cord excision depending on intraoperative findings.
`54300`	Repair of torsion of testis (detorsion and fixation)	Emergent procedure for torsion; may be in differential workflow if testicular ischemia is a concern prior to elective cord surgery.

CPT 55500: Excision of Spermatocele from Spermatic Cord

CPT-55530-SCROTAL-EXCISION-VARICOCELE-SPERMATIC-VEIN

CPT 55530: Scrotal Excision of Enlarged Spermatic Veins (Varicocele)

CPT-55535-ABDOMINAL-VARICOCELE-REPAIR-LIGATION-SPERMATIC-VEINS

CPT 55535: Abdominal Varicocele Repair with Spermatic Vein Ligation

CPT-55540-VARICOCELE-EXCISION-LIGATION-HERNIA-REPAIR

CPT 55540: Excision or Ligation of Spermatic Veins for Varicocele

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

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Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

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CPT 55520: Spermatic Cord Excision for Scrotal Pain or Fertility Restoration

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 55520: Spermatic Cord Excision for Scrotal Pain or Fertility Restoration

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References