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CPT 61605: Extradural Middle Cranial Fossa Neoplasm Resection

CPT code 61605 denotes surgical removal of a vascular or infectious neoplasm located extradurally at the base of the middle cranial fossa, including lesions in the infratemporal fossa, parapharyngeal space, or petrous apex. This procedure is clinically significant given the complex anatomy and potential for involvement of cranial base structures; accurate coding affects hospital billing, resource allocation, and national procedure volume reporting. Key payers in national coverage and payment discussions include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will find an overview of the clinical context and typical surgical setting, plus benchmarking and payment perspectives for the code across major payers. The publication covers typical sites of service, coding nuances tied to extradural cranial base procedures, and what national payers commonly evaluate when processing claims for high-complexity cranial base resections. Policy updates, payer-specific coverage criteria, and diagnosis mapping are summarized where available. Data not available in the input will be noted as such; the content focuses on procedural definition, payer coverage landscape, and the operational considerations that influence billing and reimbursement for 61605.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 61605 describes a surgical procedure to remove part or all of a vascular or infectious neoplasm located extradurally at the base of the middle cranial fossa. The lesion sites specified include the infratemporal fossa, the parapharyngeal space in the upper neck, or the petrous apex area.

Service type: Surgical excision/resection of an extradural neoplasm of the middle cranial fossa
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or surgical center, with postoperative inpatient or outpatient recovery depending on clinical circumstances

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CPT 61605: Extradural Middle Cranial Fossa Neoplasm Resection

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical excision/resection of an extradural neoplasm of the middle cranial fossa
Typical site of service: Hospital operating room or surgical center, with postoperative inpatient or outpatient recovery depending on clinical circumstances

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 52-year-old male presents with progressive unilateral facial pain, hearing changes, and a palpable preauricular mass. Cross-sectional imaging (MRI with contrast and CT temporal bone) demonstrates a vascular lesion involving the petrous apex with extradural extension into the middle cranial fossa and infratemporal fossa. After multidisciplinary tumor board review, the neurosurgeon and head & neck surgeon schedule operative resection of the extradural neoplasm via a skull base approach under general anesthesia. The clinical workflow includes preoperative evaluation (neuroimaging review, vascular imaging/angiography if indicated), perioperative localization and neurophysiologic monitoring, tumor exposure through a temporal or infratemporal skull base corridor, extradural debulking or excision of the lesion, hemostasis and reconstruction of any bony or dural defects, postoperative neurocritical monitoring, and outpatient follow-up with imaging to assess residual disease.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work or complexity substantially exceeds typical for `61605` (document specifics).
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the physician’s professional interpretation component of an associated study or service.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if identical extradural lesions are resected from both sides in the same operative session.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `61605` is reported with additional unrelated surgical procedures at the same session.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is intentionally partially performed or aborted for documented reasons.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances (document reason).
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct portions of the surgery (e.g., neurosurgeon and head & neck surgeon).
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Use only when patient meets weight criteria and service is otherwise identical.
`78`	Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use for unplanned return to OR for complications related to the initial `61605` surgery.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service during the postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed within the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon provides intraoperative assistance (document role).
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant is required and documented.
`58`	Staged or related procedure during the postoperative period	Use when a planned, staged reoperation is done following the initial `61605`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084S	Neurological Surgery	Primary specialty performing skull base extradural resections.
207P00000X	Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery	Often performs infratemporal/parapharyngeal approaches and reconstruction.
2086S0003X	Vascular Neurology / Neurosurgery (skull base vascular focus)	Involvement when lesion is vascular and requires complex hemostasis or preoperative embolization planning.
363L00000X	Radiology—Diagnostic	Preoperative imaging interpretation (MRI/CT/angiography) supporting procedure planning.
208000000X	General Surgery (skull base reconstruction assistance)	May assist with neck or parapharyngeal access and reconstruction when needed.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D32.0`	Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges	Extradural meningeal-origin lesions that may extend to middle cranial fossa and petrous region.
`D32.9`	Benign neoplasm of meninges, unspecified	Broad category for benign meningeal lesions presenting in skull base locations.
`C71.8`	Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brain	Malignant lesions with skull base extension requiring extradural resection in select cases.
`C30.0`	Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity	Tumors extending posteriorly into the infratemporal/parapharyngeal spaces may require skull base extradural approaches.
`D18.02`	Hemangioma of intracranial structures	Vascular neoplasms in the petrous/infratemporal region that may be resected using `61605`.
`I67.6`	Nonpyogenic thrombosis of intracranial venous system	Vascular complications or lesions adjacent to the skull base that may necessitate extradural intervention.
`G44.1`	Vascular headache, not elsewhere classified	Symptom code that can accompany vascular skull base lesions (used as secondary).
`M79.1`	Myalgia	Symptom code for neck/face pain associated with parapharyngeal lesions (used as secondary).

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61605`	Resection of vascular or infectious neoplasm, extradural, at base of middle cranial fossa (infratemporal fossa, parapharyngeal space, petrous apex)	Primary procedure for extradural skull base lesion resection.
`61618`	Resection of tumor, infratemporal fossa, transzygomatic or transpetrosal approaches (extensive skull base exposures)	May be used for larger or more invasive infratemporal exposures that extend beyond the anatomic description of `61605`.
`61616`	Removal of lesion, extradural, middle cranial fossa (less extensive than `61605`)	Used for smaller extradural lesions of the middle cranial fossa when appropriate.
`61790`	Stereotactic surgical procedures, cranial; other than for biopsy or lesion localization	Used for intraoperative stereotactic localization adjuncts during skull base resection.
`61626`	Reconstruction of skull base defect, including free flap or local flap closure (cranial base)	Used when significant reconstruction of dura and skull base is required after resection.
`61635`	Management of vascular lesion with endovascular embolization (adjunct)	Used when preoperative or intraoperative endovascular embolization is performed as an adjunct to reduce tumor vascularity.

CPT 61606: Excision of Intradural Lesion at Middle Cranial Fossa Base

CPT-61607-EXTRADURAL-SKULL-BASE-NEOPLASM-RESECTION

CPT 61607: Extradural Skull Base Neoplasm Resection

CPT-61608-SKULL-BASE-INTRADURAL-NEOPLASM-RESECTION

CPT 61608: Intradural Resection of Skull Base Neoplasm

CPT-61611-CAROTID-ARTERY-TRANSECTION-PETROUS-CANAL-DURING-LESION-REMOVAL

CPT 61611: Transection/Ligation of Carotid Artery in Petrous Canal

CPT-61613-MIDDLE-CRANIAL-FOSSA-EXCISION-CAVERNOUS-SINUS-VASCULAR-LESION

CPT 61613: Middle Cranial Fossa Excision of Cavernous Sinus Vascular Lesion

References

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.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.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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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work or complexity substantially exceeds typical for `61605` (document specifics).
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the physician’s professional interpretation component of an associated study or service.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if identical extradural lesions are resected from both sides in the same operative session.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `61605` is reported with additional unrelated surgical procedures at the same session.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is intentionally partially performed or aborted for documented reasons.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances (document reason).
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons of different specialties perform distinct portions of the surgery (e.g., neurosurgeon and head & neck surgeon).
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Use only when patient meets weight criteria and service is otherwise identical.
`78`	Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period	Use for unplanned return to OR for complications related to the initial `61605` surgery.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service during the postoperative period	Use when an unrelated procedure is performed within the global period.
`80`	Assistant surgeon	Use when an assistant surgeon provides intraoperative assistance (document role).
`81`	Minimum assistant surgeon	Use when a minimal assistant is required and documented.
`58`	Staged or related procedure during the postoperative period	Use when a planned, staged reoperation is done following the initial `61605`.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084S	Neurological Surgery	Primary specialty performing skull base extradural resections.
207P00000X	Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery	Often performs infratemporal/parapharyngeal approaches and reconstruction.
2086S0003X	Vascular Neurology / Neurosurgery (skull base vascular focus)	Involvement when lesion is vascular and requires complex hemostasis or preoperative embolization planning.
363L00000X	Radiology—Diagnostic	Preoperative imaging interpretation (MRI/CT/angiography) supporting procedure planning.
208000000X	General Surgery (skull base reconstruction assistance)	May assist with neck or parapharyngeal access and reconstruction when needed.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`D32.0`	Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges	Extradural meningeal-origin lesions that may extend to middle cranial fossa and petrous region.
`D32.9`	Benign neoplasm of meninges, unspecified	Broad category for benign meningeal lesions presenting in skull base locations.
`C71.8`	Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brain	Malignant lesions with skull base extension requiring extradural resection in select cases.
`C30.0`	Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity	Tumors extending posteriorly into the infratemporal/parapharyngeal spaces may require skull base extradural approaches.
`D18.02`	Hemangioma of intracranial structures	Vascular neoplasms in the petrous/infratemporal region that may be resected using `61605`.
`I67.6`	Nonpyogenic thrombosis of intracranial venous system	Vascular complications or lesions adjacent to the skull base that may necessitate extradural intervention.
`G44.1`	Vascular headache, not elsewhere classified	Symptom code that can accompany vascular skull base lesions (used as secondary).
`M79.1`	Myalgia	Symptom code for neck/face pain associated with parapharyngeal lesions (used as secondary).

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61605`	Resection of vascular or infectious neoplasm, extradural, at base of middle cranial fossa (infratemporal fossa, parapharyngeal space, petrous apex)	Primary procedure for extradural skull base lesion resection.
`61618`	Resection of tumor, infratemporal fossa, transzygomatic or transpetrosal approaches (extensive skull base exposures)	May be used for larger or more invasive infratemporal exposures that extend beyond the anatomic description of `61605`.
`61616`	Removal of lesion, extradural, middle cranial fossa (less extensive than `61605`)	Used for smaller extradural lesions of the middle cranial fossa when appropriate.
`61790`	Stereotactic surgical procedures, cranial; other than for biopsy or lesion localization	Used for intraoperative stereotactic localization adjuncts during skull base resection.
`61626`	Reconstruction of skull base defect, including free flap or local flap closure (cranial base)	Used when significant reconstruction of dura and skull base is required after resection.
`61635`	Management of vascular lesion with endovascular embolization (adjunct)	Used when preoperative or intraoperative endovascular embolization is performed as an adjunct to reduce tumor vascularity.

CPT 61606: Excision of Intradural Lesion at Middle Cranial Fossa Base

CPT-61607-EXTRADURAL-SKULL-BASE-NEOPLASM-RESECTION

CPT 61607: Extradural Skull Base Neoplasm Resection

CPT-61608-SKULL-BASE-INTRADURAL-NEOPLASM-RESECTION

CPT 61608: Intradural Resection of Skull Base Neoplasm

CPT-61611-CAROTID-ARTERY-TRANSECTION-PETROUS-CANAL-DURING-LESION-REMOVAL

CPT 61611: Transection/Ligation of Carotid Artery in Petrous Canal

CPT-61613-MIDDLE-CRANIAL-FOSSA-EXCISION-CAVERNOUS-SINUS-VASCULAR-LESION

CPT 61613: Middle Cranial Fossa Excision of Cavernous Sinus Vascular Lesion

References

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.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.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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CPT 61605: Extradural Middle Cranial Fossa Neoplasm Resection

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 61605: Extradural Middle Cranial Fossa Neoplasm Resection

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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