Summary & Overview
CPT 88380: Laser Capture Microdissection of Tissue Sections
CPT code 88380 represents laser capture microdissection, a pathology laboratory technique that uses a focused laser to isolate specific cells from microscopic tissue sections for further molecular or histologic analysis. The code covers the targeted removal of cells from slides to enable precise downstream testing, which supports diagnostic accuracy, prognostic assessment, and selection of targeted therapies.
This analysis addresses coverage and operational considerations for major national payers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of payer coverage patterns, typical sites of service, and clinical contexts in which the procedure is used. The publication summarizes common billing and documentation expectations, highlights where policy variation exists across payers, and outlines benchmarks relevant to utilization and claim adjudication.
Intended for billing managers, pathology laboratory directors, and policy analysts, the report provides practical context on when 88380 is used (e.g., molecular testing preparation, tumor profiling), what to expect in terms of service setting (pathology labs and hospital pathology suites), and the types of analyses that follow microdissection. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 88380 describes a laser capture microdissection procedure in which an analyst uses a laser to obtain desired cells from microscopic tissue sections for further study. This service isolates specific cells or cell populations from histologic slides for downstream laboratory analysis, including molecular testing and specialized pathology evaluation.
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Service type: Specimen preparation / tissue microdissection
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Typical site of service: Pathology laboratory or hospital-based pathology suite
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A surgical pathology laboratory receives a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue block from a dermatology clinic following an excisional skin biopsy for a suspicious pigmented lesion. The laboratory histotechnologist prepares hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides and the pathologist identifies focal areas where tumor cells are admixed with non-neoplastic tissue or where specific cells must be isolated (for example, to perform molecular testing or microdissection for oncogene analysis). The histology analyst performs laser capture microdissection using a microscope-mounted laser to precisely remove desired cells from microscopic tissue sections and deposit them into a collection tube for downstream studies such as PCR, next-generation sequencing, or immunohistochemical assay enrichment. Typical workflow steps include review of H&E-stained slides by the pathologist, selection and marking of target areas, setup of laser capture microdissection equipment in a controlled laboratory space, execution of microdissection, and transfer of captured material to molecular pathology or cytogenetics for analysis. Typical site of service is a hospital-based or independent clinical laboratory (pathology department or molecular diagnostics lab). Typical patient scenario: an adult patient with a prior biopsy showing atypical melanocytic proliferation where targeted sequencing of melanoma-associated genes is required to guide management.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal, - Professional component not applicable to this lab procedure; CMS-specific use varies |