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    OpenPayerBilling CodesClinical Brachytherapy Radiation TreatmentCPT cpt-77771-brachytherapy-interstitial-intracavitary-multi-channel
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    CPT 77771: Interstitial or Intracavitary Brachytherapy, 2–12 Channels

    Medicare pays $424 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77771 describes interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy using two to 12 channels, in which a provider places catheters loaded with a high‑energy radioactive source into tumor tissue or a body cavity and includes preloading dose calculation when performed; the service type is procedural radiation therapy (brachytherapy) and the typical site of service is an inpatient or outpatient radiation oncology suite or other procedural setting where image guidance and radiation safety are available.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient is an adult with a localized gynecologic or soft-tissue malignancy referred for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy. The patient presents after initial staging and multidisciplinary tumor board review that recommended localized radiation delivered via intracavitary (e.g., cervical cancer) or interstitial (e.g., head and neck, soft-tissue, or sarcoma) catheter placement. Pre-procedure imaging and treatment planning occur in radiation oncology; informed consent is obtained. Under appropriate anesthesia or sedation in an operating room or procedure suite, the radiation oncologist places two to 12 catheters or applicator channels into the tumor volume or body cavity. The team performs treatment planning calculations (dose calculation, dwell times, source loading) and may perform imaging (CT/MRI) for plan verification. After source loading, the radioactive source is delivered via the implanted channels per the prescribed fractionation; source removal and post-procedure monitoring follow. Typical sites of service are the hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or radiation oncology department with access to HDR afterloader equipment and medical physics support. Relevant providers include radiation oncologists, medical physicists, brachytherapy nurses, and anesthesiology when anesthesia is required.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77778Remote afterloading high dose rate or pulse dose rate brachytherapy, each source placement, per fractionUsed for subsequent HDR brachytherapy fractions or for additional source placements distinct from initial placement
    77336Radiation treatment planning, computer plan, or special dosimetry for brachytherapy; complex source dwell time calculationsPerformed for treatment planning and calculation of dwell times when complex planning is required
    77290Therapeutic radiology simulation-aided field setting; simplePre-procedure simulation or localization imaging when applicable (simple simulations)
    77014Computed tomography guidance for placement including imaging and radiologic supervisionCT imaging guidance used during applicator or catheter placement for localization and verification
    51702Insertion of temporary indwelling bladder catheter; simple (if applicable)Ancillary procedure when bladder catheterization is required for intracavitary gynecologic applicator placement

    Related Modifiers

    11 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    55Modifier –55 indicates the billing provider furnished only postoperative management for a procedure that has a global surgical period. According to AAPC, this modifier is appended to the same CPT…- Use modifier -55 when billing the same CPT surgical code that has a 10- or 90-day global period and you, as a provider other than the original surgeon, furnished ONLY postoperative management (no…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…

    Showing 1–10 of 11

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    2084P0800X
    208600000X
    208D00000X
    225200000X
    332BD1200X
    2080P0204X
    1223E0200X
    176P00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    28 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C16.9Malignant neoplasm of stomach, unspecified
    C18.9Malignant neoplasm of colon, unspecified
    C20Malignant neoplasm of rectum
    C22.0Liver cell carcinoma
    C23Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder
    C25.9Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
    C32.9Malignant neoplasm of larynx, unspecified
    C34.90Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.519Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other part of trunk

    Showing 1–10 of 28

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-77750-INTRATUMORAL-RADIOELEMENT-INFUSION-HOSPITAL-ADMISSION-FOLLOW-UP

    CPT 77750: Radioelement Instillation to Destroy Tumor Cells

    CPT-77761-INTRACAVITARY-BRACHYTHERAPY-IMPLANT

    CPT 77761: Intracavitary Brachytherapy, 1–4 Sources

    CPT-77762-BRACHYTHERAPY-INTRACAVITARY-INTERSTITIAL-IMPLANT

    CPT 77762: Intracavitary Brachytherapy with 5–10 Sources

    CPT-77763-INTRACAVITARY-BRACHYTHERAPY-MULTI-SOURCE-IMPLANTATION

    CPT 77763: Intracavitary Brachytherapy, >10 Radioactive Sources

    CPT-77767-SURFACE-BRACHYTHERAPY-SKIN-TUMOR-SMALL-LESION

    CPT 77767: High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy for Skin Tumor ≤2.0 cm

    CPT-77768-SURFACE-BRACHYTHERAPY-SKIN-TUMOR-LARGE-OR-MULTIPLE-LESIONS

    CPT 77768: Surface Brachytherapy for Skin Tumor >2.0 cm

    CPT-77770-SINGLE-CHANNEL-BRACHYTHERAPY-CATHETER-PLACEMENT

    CPT 77770: Single-Channel Interstitial or Intracavitary Brachytherapy

    CPT-77772-HIGH-DOSE-RATE-MULTI-CHANNEL-BRACHYTHERAPY

    CPT 77772: Interstitial or Intracavitary Brachytherapy, >12 Channels

    CPT-77778-INTERSTITIAL-BRACHYTHERAPY-MORE-THAN-10-SOURCES

    CPT 77778: Interstitial Brachytherapy, >10 Radioactive Sources

    CPT-77789-LOW-DOSE-RATE-SURFACE-BRACHYTHERAPY

    CPT 77789: Low–Dose–Rate Surface Brachytherapy

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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