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CPT 62162: Endoscopic Colloid Cyst Resection with Ventricular Drainage
CPT code 62162 covers endoscopic intracranial surgery to remove or fenestrate a colloid cyst of the third ventricle with placement of an external ventricular catheter for drainage. This procedure addresses a benign but potentially obstructive lesion that can cause hydrocephalus and acute neurologic compromise; accurate coding is important for hospital billing, resource allocation, and quality measurement in neurosurgical care.
Key national payers addressed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and an outline of common billing modifiers associated with complex operative care. The publication summarizes how the service is reported, typical care settings (hospital operating room and monitored inpatient units), and the clinical rationale for external ventricular drainage following endoscopic intervention.
The report highlights benchmarks and policy-relevant points relevant to payers and health systems: expected complexity of neurosurgical coding for endoscopic intracranial procedures, inpatient vs outpatient service implications, and implications for postoperative monitoring and resource use. Data not available in the input is clearly noted where applicable.
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Billing Code Overview
CPT code 62162 describes an endoscopic intracranial procedure to remove or create an opening to drain a colloid cyst in the third ventricle. The method uses a small endoscope introduced into the ventricular system to excise or fenestrate the thick, gel‑like benign lesion and includes placement of a ventricular catheter for external cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
Service Type: Endoscopic neurosurgical resection/drainage of intracranial colloid cyst with external ventricular catheter placement
Typical Site of Service: Hospital operating room or inpatient neurosurgical suite, with postoperative external ventricular drain management typically in an intensive care or monitored inpatient setting.