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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesOutpatient PPSHCPCS hcpcs-c2642-cesium-131-brachytherapy-source-stranded
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    HCPCS C2642: Brachytherapy Source, Cesium-131, Stranded

    HCPCS Level II code C2642 describes a brachytherapy radioactive source item — specifically a stranded cesium-131 source billed per source for use in interstitial or intracavitary brachytherapy procedures; service type is brachytherapy source supply, and the typical site of service is an inpatient or outpatient surgical/radiation oncology setting where radioactive seeds are implanted for targeted radiation therapy.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA), Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment, Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart Failure.

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    Table of contents

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    • Billing CodesCPT, HCPCS, DRG & more
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    • ModifiersCPT modifiers & usage
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    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.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    55875Transperineal placement of permanent prostate brachytherapy, with or without guidance; placement of needles and sourcesPrimary procedural CPT often reported for percutaneous prostate seed implantation using stranded sources like C2642.
    radiology-772953D treatment planning for brachytherapy (not an official CPT code, placeholder)Data not available in the input.
    77316Brachytherapy physics consultation; includes treatment planning, plan evaluation, and quality assurancePerformed by the medical physicist to calculate dose distribution for cesium-131 stranded sources.
    A4641Radioactive source, non-specific (HCPCS Level II example)Supplies and radioactive source reporting may be used in facility billing alongside C2642.
    76830Ultrasound, transrectal (TRUS) guidance for needle placementImage guidance frequently used intraoperatively to place stranded seeds accurately.

    Note: If institutional billing separates source supply (HCPCS C2642) from procedural work (CPT), the CPT codes above represent commonly billed professional and facility services associated with cesium-131 stranded brachytherapy procedures.

    Related Modifiers

    8 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…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    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…
    54Modifier ‑54 (“Surgical care only”) is appended to a CPT surgical procedure when the reporting surgeon performs the intraoperative (surgical) component but does not furnish the preoperative and/or…- Use modifier -54 when the reporting surgeon provided only the intraoperative (surgical) component of a procedure and preoperative and/or postoperative management has been or will be provided by…
    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…
    56Modifier ‑56 indicates the reporting provider furnished only the preoperative management for a surgical procedure and did not perform the intraoperative or postoperative care. It is used in…- Use Modifier -56 when a provider performs only the preoperative management in a split‑care situation (one physician manages preop care while a different physician performs the intraoperative…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    2084P0800XPsychiatry PhysicianA Psychiatrist specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, …
    363L00000XNurse Practitioner(1) A registered nurse provider with a graduate degree in nursing prepared for advanced practice involving independent and interdependent decision mak…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    367500000XCertified Registered Nurse Anesthetist(1) A licensed registered nurse with advanced specialty education in anesthesia who, in collaboration with appropriate health care professionals, prov…
    163WE0003XEmergency Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    3336C0004XCompounding PharmacyA pharmacy that specializes in the preparation of components into a drug preparation as the result of a Practitioner's Prescription Drug Order or init…
    367A00000XAdvanced Practice MidwifeAdvanced practice midwifery encompasses the independent provision of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period; sexual and reproduc…

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C43.9Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
    C44.01Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip
    C44.02Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip
    C44.111Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus
    C44.511Basal cell carcinoma of skin of breast
    C44.91Basal cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified
    C49.9Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue, unspecified
    C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
    C50.912Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of left female breast
    C51.9Malignant neoplasm of vulva, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    6 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessmentblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-09-15
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04

    Related Codes

    HCPCS-C1713-IMPLANTABLE-ANCHOR-SCREW-BONE-FIXATION

    HCPCS C1713: Anchor/Screw for Bone or Soft Tissue Fixation (Implantable)

    HCPCS-C1714-TRANSLUMINAL-DIRECTIONAL-ATHERECTOMY-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1714: Catheter, transluminal atherectomy, directional

    HCPCS-C1715-BRACHYTHERAPY-NEEDLE

    HCPCS C1715: Brachytherapy Needle

    HCPCS-C1716-BRACHYTHERAPY-GOLD-198-SOURCE

    HCPCS C1716: Brachytherapy Source, Gold-198, Per Source

    HCPCS-C1717-HDR-BRACHYTHERAPY-IRIDIUM-192-SOURCE

    HCPCS C1717: HDR Iridium-192 Brachytherapy Source, Per Source

    HCPCS-C1719-BRACHYTHERAPY-IRIDIUM-192-SOURCE-NON-STRANDED

    HCPCS C1719: Brachytherapy Source, Iridium-192, Non-Stranded

    HCPCS-C1721-IMPLANTABLE-DUAL-CHAMBER-CARDIOVERTER-DEFIBRILLATOR

    HCPCS C1721: Cardioverter-Defibrillator, Dual Chamber (Implantable)

    HCPCS-C1724-ROTATIONAL-TRANSLUMINAL-ATHERECTOMY-CATHETER

    HCPCS Level II C1724: Rotational Transluminal Atherectomy Catheter

    HCPCS-C1725-TRANSLUMINAL-ANGIOPLASTY-CATHETER-NON-LASER

    HCPCS Level II C1725: Transluminal Angioplasty Catheter, Non-Laser

    HCPCS-C1726-NON-VASCULAR-BALLOON-DILATATION-CATHETER

    HCPCS C1726: Catheter, Balloon Dilatation, Non-Vascular

    Showing 1–10 of 603

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    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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