Summary & Overview
CPT 88358: Morphometric Tumor Analysis for DNA Ploidy
CPT code 88358 identifies a specialized pathology procedure: morphometric analysis of tumors to evaluate DNA ploidy and quantitative cellular features such as size and shape. This test supports diagnostic and prognostic evaluation in oncology by characterizing chromosomal content and morphologic metrics that can inform clinical interpretation. Nationally, the code matters because it represents a distinct, reportable pathology service with implications for laboratory workflow, coding compliance, and payment policy for tumor characterization services.
Key payers in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the clinical context for morphometric tumor analysis, common settings where the service is provided, and typical coding considerations tied to pathology service lines. The publication outlines available benchmarks and payment considerations where provided, describes relevant clinical scenarios for ordering the test, and summarizes policy and billing elements that affect use of 88358 in laboratory and hospital pathology settings.
Data not available in the input for associated taxonomies, specific ICD-10 pairings, and related codes are noted as unavailable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 88358 describes a morphometric analysis of a tumor performed by a clinician, typically a pathologist, to evaluate DNA ploidy (chromosome content) of tumor cells and assess cell size, shape, and other morphologic features. This service is a specialized pathology morphology and morphometry analysis used to characterize neoplastic tissue quantitatively.
-
Service type: Specialized pathology morphometric analysis
-
Typical site of service: Hospital pathology laboratory or reference pathology laboratory
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult being evaluated after surgical resection or biopsy of a solid tumor (commonly breast, colorectal, or gynecologic tumors) in which the pathologist performs morphometric analysis to assess DNA ploidy and nuclear features. The specimen arrives in the pathology laboratory as fixed tissue; a histotechnologist prepares sections and stains (for example, Feulgen stoichiometric stain or hematoxylin and eosin when appropriate). The pathologist reviews slides microscopically, selects representative areas, and uses image analysis software or cytophotometry to quantify nuclear size, shape, and DNA content. Results are reported in the final pathology report and used by the oncology team to help assess tumor biology, prognosis, and potential need for adjuvant therapy. Typical site of service is the hospital pathology laboratory or independent clinical laboratory; the performing clinician is usually a pathologist with subspecialty interest in surgical pathology or molecular diagnostics. Relevant clinical workflow steps: specimen accessioning, grossing, slide preparation, microscopic selection of regions of interest, image acquisition, morphometric/DNA ploidy analysis, interpretation, and reporting to the treating clinician.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
26 | Professional component | Use when billing only the professional interpretation component for the morphometric analysis performed by the pathologist. |