Summary & Overview
HCPCS G8874: Excised Tissue Without Intraoperative Imaging Confirmation
HCPCS Level II code G8874 indicates that excised tissue was not evaluated by imaging intraoperatively to confirm successful inclusion of the targeted lesion. Nationally, this distinction matters because documentation of intraoperative imaging can affect clinical follow-up, quality measurement, and claims adjudication for procedures that rely on image confirmation to ensure complete removal of a target lesion. Clarity around use of this code supports consistent billing and appropriate clinical records.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of the code's clinical context, typical sites of service, and the relevance of intraoperative imaging documentation. The publication summarizes how this code is used in billing workflows, highlights common modifiers associated with related services, and points to areas where payers commonly focus medical necessity and documentation reviews.
This national summary provides bench-level context for providers, billing professionals, and policy analysts to understand when G8874 is reported, what it signifies clinically, and how it fits into surgical and pathology workflows. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
HCPCS Level II code G8874 describes excised tissue that was not evaluated by imaging intraoperatively to confirm successful inclusion of the targeted lesion. This code applies to procedures in which tissue is removed but no intraoperative imaging (for example, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or radiography) was used during the procedure to verify that the targeted lesion was included within the excised specimen.
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Service type: Surgical excision or tissue removal procedures where intraoperative imaging confirmation was not performed
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Typical site of service: Operative suite or procedure room where surgical excision is performed
Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A patient presents for surgical excision of a suspected cutaneous or subcutaneous lesion (for example, a suspicious skin mass, breast lump, or soft tissue tumor). The surgeon performs an operative excision and submits the specimen for pathological analysis. Intraoperative imaging (such as specimen radiography or intraoperative ultrasound) is not used to confirm that the excised tissue includes the targeted lesion. This scenario commonly occurs when the lesion is clinically apparent and palpated intraoperatively, when imaging guidance is unavailable, or when the facility workflow does not include intraoperative specimen imaging. Typical sites of service include hospital outpatient departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and inpatient operating rooms. The typical patient is an adult undergoing local, regional, or general anesthesia for removal of a discrete lesion with subsequent permanent pathology evaluation; operative details should document lesion location, size, margins, method of localization (if used), and reason imaging was not performed if clinically relevant.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when work or complexity substantially exceeds typical for the primary procedure (document justification). |
23 |