CPT 77610 Intratumoral Hyperthermia Reimbursement | OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 77610: Intratumoral Hyperthermia Probe or Needle Insertion

CPT code 77610 denotes invasive intratumoral hyperthermia in which a provider inserts a single probe or up to five probes/needles into a tumor to heat tissue to higher temperatures than external hyperthermia techniques. This procedure represents a specialized interventional oncology modality intended to enhance local tumor control and may be used alone or in combination with other therapies; its coding clarity supports proper billing and coverage determination across payers.

Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. The analysis covers payer coverage considerations, common billing modifiers, typical sites of service, and clinical context to help health systems and billing teams align documentation with coding requirements.

Readers will find: a concise definition of the procedure and service setting, an overview of payer coverage landscape and common modifiers seen with this code, and clinical context that clarifies when the code applies. Where information from the input was not provided, the publication notes that specific data elements are not available. The content is intended for national audiences involved in revenue cycle, compliance, and clinical operations who need to understand how CPT code 77610 is used and categorized in claims and clinical documentation.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare77610CPTintratumoral hyperthermiainterventional oncologyprocedure codingoutpatient procedurethermal ablation adjunctbilling guidance

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 77610 describes a procedure in which the provider inserts a single probe or needle, or an array of up to five probes or needles, directly into a tumor to apply localized heat at higher temperatures than external hyperthermia techniques. The service is a form of invasive tumor hyperthermia used to elevate tissue temperature intratumorally for therapeutic effect.

Service type: Image- or procedure-guided invasive tumor hyperthermia (intratumoral probe or needle heating)
Typical site of service: Procedures are typically performed in an outpatient interventional suite, procedural treatment center, or inpatient operating room depending on clinical context and equipment needs.

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult with a localized solid tumor (for example, recurrent superficial bladder tumor, soft tissue sarcoma, or localized pelvic tumor) who has failed or is not a candidate for surgery or additional radiation. The patient presents to an outpatient interventional oncology or radiation oncology suite. Pre-procedure evaluation includes imaging review (CT/MRI or ultrasound), laboratory assessment (coagulation, CBC), informed consent, and anesthesia planning (local, monitored anesthesia care, or general anesthesia). The provider uses image guidance to place a single probe, needle, or an array of up to five probes per portal into the tumor target and delivers regional hyperthermia to raise tumor temperature above levels achievable with external applicators. Procedural workflow: patient arrival and time-out, sterile preparation, image-guided probe insertion, controlled heating delivery with temperature monitoring, probe removal, hemostasis, post-anesthesia recovery, and discharge with post-procedure instructions and analgesia plan. The typical site of service is an outpatient procedure room, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital outpatient department depending on complexity and anesthesia needs.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when only the professional component (physician interpretation or service) is billed separate from technical facility or equipment charges.

CPT 77615: Invasive Tumor-Directed Hyperthermia with Multiple Probes

CPT-77605-DEEP-THERAPEUTIC-HYPERTHERMIA

CPT 77605: Deep Therapeutic Hyperthermia

CPT-77600-SUPERFICIAL-HYPERTHERMIA-UP-TO-4CM

CPT 77600: Superficial Hyperthermia, Tissue Depth up to 4 cm

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
2084P0800X	Radiation Oncology	Providers who deliver image-guided or device-mediated tumor hyperthermia alongside radiation therapy.
2086S0112X	Interventional Radiology	Common specialty performing image-guided probe placement and thermal ablation/hyperthermia techniques.
207L00000X	Surgical Oncology	Surgeons who perform intraoperative or percutaneous hyperthermia adjuncts to tumor resection.
207K00000X	General Surgery	General surgeons who treat abdominal or soft-tissue tumors with adjunctive hyperthermia.
363LP0800X	Medical Oncology	Medical oncologists involved in multimodal care planning where hyperthermia augments chemotherapy or radiation.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C44.91`	Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of face, unspecified site	Superficial skin tumors that may be treated with localized hyperthermia when surgery is not feasible.
`C50.919`	Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of unspecified female breast	Localized breast tumors or recurrent chest wall disease where focal hyperthermia can be adjunctive.
`C61`	Malignant neoplasm of prostate	Prostate tumors in select settings may be treated with focal thermal therapies including hyperthermia adjuncts.
`C67.9`	Malignant neoplasm of bladder, unspecified	Superficial or recurrent bladder tumors treated with intravesical or focal adjunctive hyperthermia strategies.
`C49.9`	Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue, unspecified	Soft tissue sarcomas often managed with multimodal therapy including regional hyperthermia.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`10021`	Fine needle aspiration without imaging guidance	Performed prior to hyperthermia for cytologic diagnosis or tissue confirmation when appropriate.
`77012`	CT guidance for needle placement	Used to guide probe or needle placement into deep or difficult-to-access tumors prior to hyperthermia delivery.
`76942`	Ultrasonic guidance for needle placement	Used to guide probe insertion for superficially located tumors during hyperthermia procedures.
`76930`	Ultrasonic guidance for vascular access	Used when ultrasound guidance is needed for vascular access related to procedural sedation or monitoring.
`99070`	Supplies and materials (e.g., sterile disposable probes)	Reports separately billable expendable supplies and specialized disposables used during hyperthermia.

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