Summary & Overview
HCPCS C2642: Brachytherapy Source, Cesium-131, Stranded
HCPCS Level II code C2642 denotes a single stranded cesium-131 brachytherapy source used in internal radiation therapy. The code is applied when cesium-131 seeds are supplied for placement in or near a tumor as part of a brachytherapy procedure. Nationally, accurate coding for radionuclide sources like cesium-131 affects facility billing, inventory tracking, and standardization of radiation oncology supplies.
Key payers in typical coverage analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical use of cesium-131 sources, typical sites of service where such sources are used (hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and radiation oncology clinics), and the role of C2642 in supply-and-procedure billing lines. The publication provides benchmarks where available, summarizes relevant policy considerations for payers versus facility billing, and outlines common billing contexts and service-line placement. Data not available in the input is identified as such rather than inferred. This overview serves clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking a national-level reference for coding and clinical context for stranded cesium-131 brachytherapy sources.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code C2642 describes a brachytherapy source, stranded, cesium-131, per source. This code represents a single sealed radiation source of cesium-131 intended for use in brachytherapy, a form of internal radiation treatment in which radioactive seeds or sources are placed directly into or near a tumor.
Service type: Brachytherapy implantation of radioactive source
Typical site of service: Hospital outpatient department, ambulatory surgery center, or radiation oncology clinic
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 68-year-old male with a newly diagnosed localized prostate carcinoma receives transperineal brachytherapy using stranded cesium-131 seeds. The patient presents to a radiation oncology clinic for consultation, simulation, and operative implantation. Pre-procedure workflow includes history and physical, cross-sectional imaging (CT or MRI) for target delineation, treatment planning by a medical physicist, and informed consent. On the day of implantation, the patient is brought to an operating or procedure suite under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia. Under ultrasound and/or CT guidance, interstitial implantation needles are placed into the prostate and stranded C2642 cesium-131 sources are loaded and secured in prearranged strands to achieve the planned dose distribution. A physicist verifies seed activity and placement; radiographs or CT are obtained post-implant to confirm source positions. The patient is observed for immediate complications, given discharge instructions, and scheduled for follow-up with surveillance imaging and PSA monitoring. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and radiation oncology procedure suites.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
00 | No modifier | Standard reporting when no modifier is applicable. |