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CPT 62164: Endoscopic Brain Tumor Resection with Ventricular Drainage

CPT code 62164 represents an endoscopic intracranial tumor resection with placement of a ventricular catheter for external drainage. This procedure is used in neurosurgical management of intracranial tumors where a minimally invasive endoscopic approach is feasible and concurrent cerebrospinal fluid diversion is required. Nationally, accurate coding for complex neurosurgical procedures like 62164 matters for care coordination, hospital resource planning, and appropriate claims adjudication.

Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, typical site-of-service considerations, and the primary payer landscape. The publication also summarizes common billing practices and benchmarking themes relevant to hospitals and neurosurgery providers.

This summary equips billing managers, revenue cycle leaders, and clinical coding teams with the essential context for 62164, clarifying when the code is applicable and what to expect in payer coverage and hospital settings. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable in detailed sections.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 62164 describes a neurosurgical procedure in which a surgeon uses a small endoscope to access and remove a brain tumor and places a ventricular catheter for external drainage. The service type is endoscopic intracranial tumor resection with ventricular catheter placement. The typical site of service is an acute care hospital operating room with neurosurgical and intensive care support.

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CPT 62164: Endoscopic Brain Tumor Resection with Ventricular Drainage

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Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 54-year-old patient presents with progressive headaches, nausea, and focal neurologic deficits. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrates a 3.0 cm intraventricular or periventricular tumor causing obstructive hydrocephalus. The neurosurgery team schedules an endoscopic transventricular tumor resection with placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) for cerebrospinal fluid diversion and intracranial pressure management. In the operating room the neurosurgeon obtains general endotracheal anesthesia, performs a small burr-hole craniostomy, introduces a rigid or flexible neuroendoscope into the ventricular system, achieves endoscopic visualization and resection or debulking of the lesion, and places a ventricular catheter connected to an external drainage system. Postoperative workflow includes intracranial pressure and drainage monitoring in a neurosurgical intensive care unit, serial neurologic exams, neuroimaging to confirm extent of resection and catheter position, and EVD management until intracranial dynamics stabilize or conversion to internal shunt is indicated.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work required is substantially greater than typical for `62164` due to complexity, e.g., extensive tumor adhesions or intraoperative complications increasing time/effort.
`23`	Unusual procedural services (anesthesia related)	Use when procedure performed under general anesthesia is medically necessary for an otherwise normally non‑anesthetized procedure component or when anesthesia contributed to complexity.
`26`	Professional component	Use if reporting only the surgeon’s professional component separate from hospital technical charges when payer requires split billing.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if identical endoscopic procedures are performed bilaterally in the same session (rare for intraventricular tumor but applicable if lesions on both sides are treated).
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `62164` is reported in addition to other unrelated procedures during the same operative session, and payer requires modifier for multiple procedure reductions.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when a truncated or partial endoscopic resection/EVD placement is performed and documentation supports reduced service.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion (e.g., uncontrolled hemorrhage) and documentation supports discontinuation.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedure or service not normally reported together with `62164` when performed at a different anatomic site or session.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons, each performing distinct portions of `62164` requiring shared operative responsibility.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Use when applicable based on patient weight and payer policy considerations for pediatric neurosurgery.
`78`	Return to operating room for related procedure during postoperative period	Use if patient requires a repeat operative intervention related to the initial `62164` during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service during the global period	Use if an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period (note: `79` was not in provided list; omitted).
`57`	Decision for surgery	Use preoperative when an evaluation leading to `62164` is reported (note: `57` not in provided list; omitted).

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RH0000X	Neurological Surgery	Neurosurgeons perform endoscopic brain tumor resections and EVD placement.
2084P0800X	Pediatric Neurosurgery	Pediatric neurosurgeons perform similar procedures in infants and children when indicated.
2086S0120X	Critical Care Medicine	Neurocritical care specialists manage postoperative EVDs and intracranial pressure in ICU.
2084N0405X	Neurology	Neurologists provide preoperative and postoperative neurologic evaluation and longitudinal care.
207RG0101X	Interventional Neuroradiology	Neuroradiologists frequently perform preoperative diagnostic and intraoperative image guidance planning.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Primary malignant brain tumors that may require endoscopic resection and EVD placement for mass effect or hydrocephalus.
`D33.4`	Benign neoplasm of ventricles	Intraventricular benign tumors (e.g., ependymoma, subependymoma) amenable to endoscopic removal and EVD placement.
`G91.0`	Communicating hydrocephalus	Hydrocephalus related to tumor obstruction managed acutely with external ventricular drainage during tumor resection.
`G91.2`	Hydrocephalus, unspecified	General hydrocephalus diagnosis often present when EVD placement is required for CSF diversion during tumor surgery.
`C71.6`	Malignant neoplasm of ventricle	Ventricular malignant lesions specifically indicating intraventricular tumor surgery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`62164`	Endoscopic removal of tumor(s), intraventricular or paraventricular, with ventricular catheter placement for external drainage	Primary coded procedure for endoscopic intraventricular tumor resection with EVD placement.
`62165`	Endoscopic approach for intraventricular tumor without external ventricular drain placement	Alternative endoscopic tumor resection when no EVD is placed; choose based on whether external drainage is performed.
`61582`	Craniotomy for lesion, supratentorial, for tumor excision	Open craniotomy alternative for tumor resection when endoscopic approach is not feasible; may be performed if conversion occurs.
`62223`	Diagnostic or therapeutic puncture of spinal subarachnoid space (lumbar puncture)	May be used pre‑ or postoperatively for CSF sampling if clinically indicated but not reported during same intracranial operation.
`61010`	Exploration, drainage for intracranial abscess, burr hole(s); aspiration of abscess	Occasionally relevant when differential includes infected cystic lesions requiring drainage instead of tumor resection.
`01990`	Use of operating microscope	Report if payer requires separate billing for microscope use during neurosurgical procedures per local policy (microscope use often bundled).

CPT 62160: Endoscopic Ventricular Catheter Placement or Replacement

CPT-62161-ENDOSCOPIC-INTRACRANIAL-CYST-ADHESION-REMOVAL-VENTRICULAR-CATHETER

CPT 62161: Endoscopic Intracranial Cyst/Adhesion Removal with Ventricular Catheter

CPT-62162-ENDOSCOPIC-COLLOID-CYST-RESECTION-WITH-VENTRICULAR-DRAINAGE

CPT 62162: Endoscopic Colloid Cyst Resection with Ventricular Drainage

CPT-62165-ENDOSCOPIC-TRANSNASAL-PITUITARY-TUMOR-RESECTION

CPT 62165: Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Tumor Resection

Frequently Asked Questions

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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Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when work required is substantially greater than typical for `62164` due to complexity, e.g., extensive tumor adhesions or intraoperative complications increasing time/effort.
`23`	Unusual procedural services (anesthesia related)	Use when procedure performed under general anesthesia is medically necessary for an otherwise normally non‑anesthetized procedure component or when anesthesia contributed to complexity.
`26`	Professional component	Use if reporting only the surgeon’s professional component separate from hospital technical charges when payer requires split billing.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use if identical endoscopic procedures are performed bilaterally in the same session (rare for intraventricular tumor but applicable if lesions on both sides are treated).
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when `62164` is reported in addition to other unrelated procedures during the same operative session, and payer requires modifier for multiple procedure reductions.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when a truncated or partial endoscopic resection/EVD placement is performed and documentation supports reduced service.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when procedure is started but terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion (e.g., uncontrolled hemorrhage) and documentation supports discontinuation.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use to indicate a separate, distinct procedure or service not normally reported together with `62164` when performed at a different anatomic site or session.
`62`	Two surgeons	Use when two surgeons work together as primary surgeons, each performing distinct portions of `62164` requiring shared operative responsibility.
`63`	Procedure performed on infants less than 4 kg	Use when applicable based on patient weight and payer policy considerations for pediatric neurosurgery.
`78`	Return to operating room for related procedure during postoperative period	Use if patient requires a repeat operative intervention related to the initial `62164` during the global period.
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service during the global period	Use if an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period (note: `79` was not in provided list; omitted).
`57`	Decision for surgery	Use preoperative when an evaluation leading to `62164` is reported (note: `57` not in provided list; omitted).

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207RH0000X	Neurological Surgery	Neurosurgeons perform endoscopic brain tumor resections and EVD placement.
2084P0800X	Pediatric Neurosurgery	Pediatric neurosurgeons perform similar procedures in infants and children when indicated.
2086S0120X	Critical Care Medicine	Neurocritical care specialists manage postoperative EVDs and intracranial pressure in ICU.
2084N0405X	Neurology	Neurologists provide preoperative and postoperative neurologic evaluation and longitudinal care.
207RG0101X	Interventional Neuroradiology	Neuroradiologists frequently perform preoperative diagnostic and intraoperative image guidance planning.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C71.9`	Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified	Primary malignant brain tumors that may require endoscopic resection and EVD placement for mass effect or hydrocephalus.
`D33.4`	Benign neoplasm of ventricles	Intraventricular benign tumors (e.g., ependymoma, subependymoma) amenable to endoscopic removal and EVD placement.
`G91.0`	Communicating hydrocephalus	Hydrocephalus related to tumor obstruction managed acutely with external ventricular drainage during tumor resection.
`G91.2`	Hydrocephalus, unspecified	General hydrocephalus diagnosis often present when EVD placement is required for CSF diversion during tumor surgery.
`C71.6`	Malignant neoplasm of ventricle	Ventricular malignant lesions specifically indicating intraventricular tumor surgery.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`62164`	Endoscopic removal of tumor(s), intraventricular or paraventricular, with ventricular catheter placement for external drainage	Primary coded procedure for endoscopic intraventricular tumor resection with EVD placement.
`62165`	Endoscopic approach for intraventricular tumor without external ventricular drain placement	Alternative endoscopic tumor resection when no EVD is placed; choose based on whether external drainage is performed.
`61582`	Craniotomy for lesion, supratentorial, for tumor excision	Open craniotomy alternative for tumor resection when endoscopic approach is not feasible; may be performed if conversion occurs.
`62223`	Diagnostic or therapeutic puncture of spinal subarachnoid space (lumbar puncture)	May be used pre‑ or postoperatively for CSF sampling if clinically indicated but not reported during same intracranial operation.
`61010`	Exploration, drainage for intracranial abscess, burr hole(s); aspiration of abscess	Occasionally relevant when differential includes infected cystic lesions requiring drainage instead of tumor resection.
`01990`	Use of operating microscope	Report if payer requires separate billing for microscope use during neurosurgical procedures per local policy (microscope use often bundled).

CPT 62160: Endoscopic Ventricular Catheter Placement or Replacement

CPT-62161-ENDOSCOPIC-INTRACRANIAL-CYST-ADHESION-REMOVAL-VENTRICULAR-CATHETER

CPT 62161: Endoscopic Intracranial Cyst/Adhesion Removal with Ventricular Catheter

CPT-62162-ENDOSCOPIC-COLLOID-CYST-RESECTION-WITH-VENTRICULAR-DRAINAGE

CPT 62162: Endoscopic Colloid Cyst Resection with Ventricular Drainage

CPT-62165-ENDOSCOPIC-TRANSNASAL-PITUITARY-TUMOR-RESECTION

CPT 62165: Endoscopic Transnasal Transsphenoidal Pituitary Tumor Resection

Frequently Asked Questions

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 62164: Endoscopic Brain Tumor Resection with Ventricular Drainage

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Billing Code Overview

OpenPayer

CPT 62164: Endoscopic Brain Tumor Resection with Ventricular Drainage

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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

CPT 62164: Endoscopic Brain Tumor Resection with Ventricular Drainage

Sign up for cpt 62164 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 62164: Endoscopic Brain Tumor Resection with Ventricular Drainage

Sign up for cpt 62164 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

When should I use CPT 62164?

How do I choose between 62164 and related CPT codes like 62165 or 61582?

Which modifiers are commonly used with 62164 and when are they appropriate?

Where is 62164 typically performed and which specialties are involved?

Which diagnosis codes commonly support billing for 62164?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

When should I use CPT 62164?

How do I choose between 62164 and related CPT codes like 62165 or 61582?

Which modifiers are commonly used with 62164 and when are they appropriate?

Where is 62164 typically performed and which specialties are involved?

Which diagnosis codes commonly support billing for 62164?

References