Summary & Overview
CPT 58940: Oophorectomy, Open Abdominal
CPT code 58940 denotes an oophorectomy performed through an abdominal incision to remove part or all of one or both ovaries. This open abdominal oophorectomy is an important gynecologic surgery code used nationally to bill for definitive treatment of ovarian pathology, risk-reduction procedures, and other surgical indications where a non‑minimally invasive approach is selected.
Key payers commonly involved in coverage and reimbursement for this service include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical settings of care (hospital inpatient, hospital outpatient, and ambulatory surgery centers), and how the code fits into surgical gynecology service lines.
The publication provides benchmarks and policy-relevant information such as payer coverage considerations, billing nuances for open versus minimally invasive approaches, and common modifier usage patterns where available. It also outlines clinical context that affects coding choices, including indications for unilateral versus bilateral procedures and factors that influence site of service. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 58940 describes a surgical procedure to remove part or all of one or both ovaries through an abdominal incision, commonly known as an oophorectomy. The service type is surgical procedure — gynecologic (oophorectomy) via open abdominal approach. The typical site of service is an inpatient or outpatient hospital surgical suite or an ambulatory surgery center, depending on clinical complexity and facility capabilities.
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old woman presents with symptomatic ovarian cysts and recurrent pelvic pain refractory to medical management. Imaging (transvaginal ultrasound and pelvic MRI) demonstrates a 6 cm complex cyst of the left ovary suspicious for hemorrhagic cyst or endometrioma. The gynecologic surgeon discusses options and schedules an open left oophorectomy via a lower midline or Pfannenstiel abdominal incision due to prior abdominal surgeries and suspected adhesions. Preoperative workflow includes consent, anesthesia evaluation, pregnancy test if applicable, prophylactic antibiotics, and perioperative venous thromboembolism risk assessment. Intraoperative steps include abdominal entry, lysis of adhesions as needed, identification and isolation of the ovary, ligation of the ovarian vessels and utero-ovarian ligament, removal of the ovary (partial or total as indicated), hemostasis, irrigation, and layered closure. Postoperative care includes pain control, monitoring for bleeding or infection, pathology submission of the specimen, discharge planning with wound and activity instructions, and follow-up for pathology results and hormonal/contraceptive counseling as appropriate.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
50 | Bilateral procedure | Use when bilateral oophorectomy performed during same operative session |