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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesClinical Brachytherapy Radiation TreatmentCPT cpt-77789-low-dose-rate-surface-brachytherapy
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    CPT 77789: Low–Dose–Rate Surface Brachytherapy

    Medicare pays $92 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 77789 describes low–dose–rate (LDR) brachytherapy surface application, where a provider places a radioactive source directly on or into a target body area using surface applicators, needles, seeds, or suspensions; service type: therapeutic radiation procedure (brachytherapy); typical site of service: outpatient radiation oncology clinic or procedure suite.

    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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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old patient with a superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the scalp is scheduled for low–dose–rate (LDR) brachytherapy. The radiation oncology team uses surface applicators to place a temporary radioactive seed suspension directly on the lesion surface for several days to deliver a concentrated local dose while sparing surrounding normal tissues. The clinical workflow includes consultation and simulation with immobilization and surface mapping, applicator selection and placement by the radiation oncologist (often in a procedure suite or operating room), radiation physics verification of source activity and dwell times, short inpatient or outpatient monitoring during LDR delivery as required by institutional protocols, removal of applicators/seeds after prescribed dose delivery, and follow‑up visits to assess local control and toxicity.

    Typical site of service: hospital outpatient department, ambulatory radiation oncology center, or procedure room in a hospital where brachytherapy sources and physics oversight are available.

    Typical patient scenario: an elderly patient with a localized skin malignancy or mucosal lesion not amenable to wide local excision due to cosmetic or functional concerns, treated with LDR surface brachytherapy using needles, seeds, or surface applicators under direct supervision of a radiation oncologist and medical physicist. Monitoring for acute skin reaction and radiation safety precautions are part of the workflow.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    77789Low–dose–rate intraoperative or interstitial radiation; placement of radioactive sources on surface, needles, seeds, or suspensionsPrimary procedure describing LDR surface brachytherapy.
    77316Brachytherapy dosimetry, clinical radiation dose calculations, treatment planPerformed by medical physicists to calculate dose distribution and source strengths used with 77789.
    77334Brachytherapy, afterloading, remote dosimetry calculation, includes planning and physics consultUsed for dosimetric planning and physics services associated with brachytherapy procedures.
    57454Colposcopy during treatment (example pelvic) — Note: included as a placeholder when mucosal visualization is requiredIn specific mucosal surface treatments, endoscopic or direct visualization procedures may be performed before or after brachytherapy.
    77014Magnetic resonance (MRI) guidance for needle placement (when applicable)Image guidance may be used for applicator placement in anatomically challenging locations alongside 77789.

    Note: Related codes are commonly performed in the same clinical workflow for planning, physics, imaging, and procedural support for LDR surface brachytherapy.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…
    73Modifier 73 indicates a facility-level outpatient hospital or ASC procedure that was discontinued after the patient was prepared and taken to the procedure/operating room but before any anesthesia…- When to use: Apply CPT modifier 73 on the FACILITY (outpatient hospital or ASC) claim when the patient has been fully prepared and physically taken into the procedure/operating room but the…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    207K00000X
    207L00000X
    163WP0000X
    207ZP0105X
    156FX1700X
    332BD1200X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.42Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C51.9Malignant neoplasm of vulva, unspecified
    C53.9Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified
    C54.9Malignant neoplasm of corpus uteri, unspecified
    C55Malignant neoplasm of uterus, part unspecified
    C56.9Malignant neoplasm of unspecified ovary
    C61Malignant neoplasm of prostate
    C64.9Malignant neoplasm of unspecified kidney, except renal pelvis

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    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-77771-BRACHYTHERAPY-INTERSTITIAL-INTRACAVITARY-MULTI-CHANNEL

    CPT 77771: Interstitial or Intracavitary Brachytherapy, 2–12 Channels

    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

    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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