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CPT 61800: Stereotactic Head Frame Application

CPT code 61800 represents an add-on procedure for applying a stereotactic head frame to a patient’s head to enable image-guided localization before stereotactic radiosurgery or other intracranial procedures. The frame supports precise targeting for interventions such as brain biopsy, lesion drainage, or catheter/electrode placement. This code is clinically important because accurate stereotactic localization reduces procedural risk and supports effective treatment delivery across neurosurgical and radiosurgical services. Nationally, utilization of stereotactic localization procedures influences facility workflows, imaging utilization, and specialty billing practices.

Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for 61800, typical sites of service, and the role this add-on procedure plays in stereotactic care pathways. The publication also summarizes common modifiers and related billing considerations, benchmark comparisons across major payers where available, and policy or coding guidance updates relevant to facilities and specialty providers. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 61800 describes an add-on procedure in which a stereotactic head frame is applied to a patient’s head prior to stereotactic radiosurgery. The provider attaches the frame to facilitate image scanning and precise localization of intracranial targets. This service is most often performed for brain biopsy, drainage of intracranial lesions, or placement of a catheter or electrodes.

Service type: Stereotactic head frame application (preparation for stereotactic radiosurgery or neurosurgical localization)

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or other procedural settings where stereotactic intracranial procedures are performed

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CPT 61800: Stereotactic Head Frame Application

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Stereotactic head frame application (preparation for stereotactic radiosurgery or neurosurgical localization)

Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or other procedural settings where stereotactic intracranial procedures are performed

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 54-year-old patient with a newly identified 2.5 cm solitary enhancing lesion in the right frontal lobe is scheduled for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). The neurosurgeon places a rigid stereotactic head frame to immobilize and register the skull to stereotactic imaging prior to high‑resolution CT and MRI used for target localization and treatment planning. The workflow includes pre-procedure consent and brief sedation or local anesthesia, application of the frame to skull with fixation pins, transport for stereotactic CT/MRI with the frame in place, image fusion with MRI sequences, treatment planning by the radiation oncologist and medical physicist, and return to the radiosurgery suite for delivery of focused radiation or for a frameless subsequent procedure (e.g., biopsy or catheter placement) if indicated. Typical monitoring includes vital signs and pin-site care; the frame application is documented with reason for stereotactic localization, number and location of fixation points, type of anesthesia, and any immediate complications.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`11`	Normal, uncomplicated service	Use when the frame application is routine and part of expected care without unusual effort
`22`	Unusual procedural services	Use when substantially greater effort or time is required to place the frame (e.g., challenging anatomy)
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is required specifically for frame placement instead of usual local/regional/anxiolysis
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional interpretation/management associated with imaging or planning tied to the frame application
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Rarely applicable; use only if identical frame application is billed as bilateral surgical site (generally not applicable)
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as planned during frame application
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when frame application is started but discontinued due to patient condition or other unforeseen events
`58`	Staged or related procedure by same provider	Use when frame placement is part of a planned staged procedure performed later during the postoperative period
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when the frame application is a separate, unrelated service performed on the same date distinct from other procedures
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons are required and both provide distinct portions of the procedure during frame placement
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same physician reapplies a frame later the same day (if applicable)
`78`	Unplanned return to the OR following initial procedure	Use when frame-related complication requires immediate return to the operating room
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during postoperative period	Use when a separate unrelated procedure is performed while frame is in place
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist	Use when an advanced practice clinician performs components of care associated with frame application per payer rules

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084P0800X	Neurosurgery	Primary specialty performing stereotactic frame placement for intracranial procedures
2085P0200X	Neurological Surgery (alternative taxonomy)	Surgeons who perform stereotactic procedures and frame application
2085N0400X	Radiation Oncology	Involvement for treatment planning and radiosurgery workflow after frame application
363LP0800X	Interventional Neuroradiology	May perform frame-guided procedures like biopsies or catheter placement
363A00000X	Anesthesiology	Provides sedation or general anesthesia required for frame placement when indicated

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Common indication for stereotactic radiosurgery or biopsy using a stereotactic frame
`D33.4`	Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges	Indication for stereotactic localization for biopsy, resection planning, or radiosurgery
`G93.9`	Disorder of brain, unspecified	Non-specific brain lesion evaluation where stereotactic localization may be needed
`I62.9`	Nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, unspecified	May require stereotactic drainage or catheter placement guided by frame localization
`G91.2`	Communicating hydrocephalus	May need catheter placement or shunt-related interventions with stereotactic assistance
`R90.0`	Intracranial space-occupying lesion, scanned without contrast or with contrast	Radiographic finding prompting stereotactic localization and possible intervention
`C79.31`	Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain	Metastatic lesions commonly treated with stereotactic radiosurgery following frame localization

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61796`	Stereotactic computer-assisted (or robotic) procedure for intracranial lesion; biopsy	Biopsy that may follow frame application to obtain tissue from the localized target
`61797`	Stereotactic computer-assisted (or robotic) procedure for intracranial lesion; excision/aspiration	Therapeutic lesion excision or aspiration performed after target localization with the frame
`61798`	Stereotactic computer-assisted (or robotic) procedure for intracranial lesion; catheter or electrode placement	Placement of catheters or electrodes guided by stereotactic localization after frame application
`61790`	Stereotactic radiosurgery; single lesion, cranial	Radiosurgery delivery that uses the frame-based image localization for precise targeting
`77295`	Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting (e.g., radiosurgery); complex	Treatment planning and dosimetry often performed using images acquired with the stereotactic frame

CPT 61796: Targeted Radiosurgery for Single, Simple Cranial Lesion

CPT-61797-ADD-ON-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY-ADDITIONAL-CRANIAL-LESION

CPT 61797: Add-on Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Additional Cranial Lesion

CPT-61798-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY-SINGLE-COMPLEX-CRANIAL-LESION

CPT 61798: Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Single Complex Cranial Lesion

CPT-61799-ADD-ON-COMPLEX-CRANIAL-LESION-RADIOSURGERY

CPT 61799: Add-On Procedure for Additional Complex Cranial Lesion Radiation

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
`11`	Normal, uncomplicated service	Use when the frame application is routine and part of expected care without unusual effort
`22`	Unusual procedural services	Use when substantially greater effort or time is required to place the frame (e.g., challenging anatomy)
`23`	Unusual anesthesia	Use when general anesthesia is required specifically for frame placement instead of usual local/regional/anxiolysis
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the professional interpretation/management associated with imaging or planning tied to the frame application
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Rarely applicable; use only if identical frame application is billed as bilateral surgical site (generally not applicable)
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is partially reduced or not completed as planned during frame application
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when frame application is started but discontinued due to patient condition or other unforeseen events
`58`	Staged or related procedure by same provider	Use when frame placement is part of a planned staged procedure performed later during the postoperative period
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when the frame application is a separate, unrelated service performed on the same date distinct from other procedures
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons are required and both provide distinct portions of the procedure during frame placement
`76`	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same physician reapplies a frame later the same day (if applicable)
`78`	Unplanned return to the OR following initial procedure	Use when frame-related complication requires immediate return to the operating room
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during postoperative period	Use when a separate unrelated procedure is performed while frame is in place
`AS`	Physician assistant, nurse practitioner or clinical nurse specialist	Use when an advanced practice clinician performs components of care associated with frame application per payer rules

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084P0800X	Neurosurgery	Primary specialty performing stereotactic frame placement for intracranial procedures
2085P0200X	Neurological Surgery (alternative taxonomy)	Surgeons who perform stereotactic procedures and frame application
2085N0400X	Radiation Oncology	Involvement for treatment planning and radiosurgery workflow after frame application
363LP0800X	Interventional Neuroradiology	May perform frame-guided procedures like biopsies or catheter placement
363A00000X	Anesthesiology	Provides sedation or general anesthesia required for frame placement when indicated

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Common indication for stereotactic radiosurgery or biopsy using a stereotactic frame
`D33.4`	Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges	Indication for stereotactic localization for biopsy, resection planning, or radiosurgery
`G93.9`	Disorder of brain, unspecified	Non-specific brain lesion evaluation where stereotactic localization may be needed
`I62.9`	Nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, unspecified	May require stereotactic drainage or catheter placement guided by frame localization
`G91.2`	Communicating hydrocephalus	May need catheter placement or shunt-related interventions with stereotactic assistance
`R90.0`	Intracranial space-occupying lesion, scanned without contrast or with contrast	Radiographic finding prompting stereotactic localization and possible intervention
`C79.31`	Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain	Metastatic lesions commonly treated with stereotactic radiosurgery following frame localization

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`61796`	Stereotactic computer-assisted (or robotic) procedure for intracranial lesion; biopsy	Biopsy that may follow frame application to obtain tissue from the localized target
`61797`	Stereotactic computer-assisted (or robotic) procedure for intracranial lesion; excision/aspiration	Therapeutic lesion excision or aspiration performed after target localization with the frame
`61798`	Stereotactic computer-assisted (or robotic) procedure for intracranial lesion; catheter or electrode placement	Placement of catheters or electrodes guided by stereotactic localization after frame application
`61790`	Stereotactic radiosurgery; single lesion, cranial	Radiosurgery delivery that uses the frame-based image localization for precise targeting
`77295`	Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting (e.g., radiosurgery); complex	Treatment planning and dosimetry often performed using images acquired with the stereotactic frame

CPT 61796: Targeted Radiosurgery for Single, Simple Cranial Lesion

CPT-61797-ADD-ON-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY-ADDITIONAL-CRANIAL-LESION

CPT 61797: Add-on Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Additional Cranial Lesion

CPT-61798-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY-SINGLE-COMPLEX-CRANIAL-LESION

CPT 61798: Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Single Complex Cranial Lesion

CPT-61799-ADD-ON-COMPLEX-CRANIAL-LESION-RADIOSURGERY

CPT 61799: Add-On Procedure for Additional Complex Cranial Lesion Radiation

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 61800: Stereotactic Head Frame Application

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 61800: Stereotactic Head Frame Application

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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