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    OpenPayerBilling CodesIncision Procedures on the Thyroid GlandCPT cpt-60000-thyroid-cyst-incision-drainage
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    CPT 60000: Incision and Drainage of Infected Thyroid Cyst

    Medicare pays $193 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 60000 describes the surgical procedure in which a provider performs an incision and drainage of an infected thyroid cyst, typically a thyroglossal duct cyst; the service is a minor surgical drainage usually performed in an ambulatory surgery center, outpatient clinic, or procedure room under local or general anesthesia depending on complexity and patient factors.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Diabetic Supplies, Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules, Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult or adolescent presenting to the emergency department, urgent care clinic, or outpatient otolaryngology office with a painful, fluctuant midline neck mass consistent with an infected thyroglossal duct cyst. The patient often reports progressive swelling, erythema, tenderness, and possible drainage from a central punctum following several days of symptoms. Vital signs may show low-grade fever. Physical exam confirms a midline cervical cyst that moves with swallowing or tongue protrusion and has signs of local infection (induration, fluctuance).

    The clinical workflow includes triage and assessment, focused history and neck exam, point-of-care ultrasound or cross-sectional imaging if deep extension or atypical features are suspected, and confirmation of fluctuance indicating abscess. Consent is obtained for incision and drainage. Local anesthesia with field block or infiltration is administered. The provider performs an incision, drains purulent material, irrigates the cavity, and may place a wick or small drain if indicated. Specimens may be sent for Gram stain and culture. Post-procedure care includes wound packing or dressing, oral or topical antibiotics as indicated, tetanus status review, pain control, and instructions for follow-up for definitive excision (e.g., Sistrunk procedure) once infection is controlled. Documentation includes procedure indication, anesthesia, estimated volume of drainage, findings, complications, and aftercare instructions.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    10160Incision and drainage, infected lesion (eg, carbuncle, suppurative hidradenitis, cutaneous or subcutaneous abscess, cyst), simple or singleMay be used for superficial infected cysts; similar technique when drainage is performed in superficial neck infections
    60210Excision of thyroglossal duct cyst; simpleDefinitive elective surgical excision (Sistrunk type procedures) performed after infection has resolved
    60220Excision of thyroglossal duct cyst; complex, requiring radical excisionUsed for more extensive resections when cyst tract or surrounding tissue requires broad resection
    10060Incision and drainage of abscess; simple or singleAlternative I&D code commonly used for cutaneous abscesses if documentation supports its use
    87070Culture, bacterial; any other source except blood, aerobic, bacterial isolation and presumptive identificationUsed when purulent material is sent for culture and sensitivity

    Related Modifiers

    12 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    207L00000X
    208000000X
    363A00000X
    385HR2060X
    246ZB0301X
    3336S0011X
    126900000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    23 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    B99.9Unspecified infectious disease
    D49.2Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue, and skin
    E04.0Nontoxic diffuse goiter
    E06.9Thyroiditis, unspecified
    E07.9Disorder of thyroid, unspecified
    J36Peritonsillar abscess
    J39.8Other specified diseases of upper respiratory tract
    K83.1Obstruction of bile duct
    K86.3Pseudocyst of pancreas
    L02.01Cutaneous abscess of face

    Showing 1–10 of 23

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Endocrinology1 / 2

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Diabetic SuppliesCigna2026-10-15
    Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid NodulesCigna2026-10-15
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Idaho Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Tzield (teplizumab-mzwv) CoverageUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Delivery for Managing Diabetes (for Indiana Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines Insulin PumpsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Continuous Glucose MonitorsMass General Brigham Health Plan2026-10-01
    Continuous Glucose MonitoringAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    Salivary Hormone TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Bone Turnover Markers TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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