2025 CPT code 10006
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - General Surgical Procedures Surgery Feed
Fine needle aspiration biopsy, each additional lesion under ultrasound guidance.
Modifier 59 (distinct procedural service) may be necessary when using different imaging modalities or when performing FNA on separate lesions during the same session.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a clinically suspicious lesion (e.g., palpable mass, abnormal imaging findings) requiring further investigation to guide diagnosis and treatment.
The clinical responsibility lies with the physician performing the FNA biopsy. This includes proper patient preparation, anesthesia administration (usually local), ultrasound guidance for needle placement, aspiration of tissue or fluid, and sending the specimen to the pathology laboratory for analysis.
In simple words: This code is for extra charges when a doctor takes samples from more than one suspicious area in your body during one visit using ultrasound to guide the needle. The doctor uses a thin needle to collect samples to test in a lab.
This CPT code, 10006, reports each additional lesion biopsied via fine needle aspiration (FNA) under ultrasound guidance.It is an add-on code and must be reported in addition to the primary procedure code (10005) for the initial lesion. The procedure involves using an ultrasound to guide the insertion of a fine needle to aspirate cells or tissue from a suspicious lesion for cytological or histopathological evaluation.This code is used when multiple lesions are sampled during the same session, using the same imaging modality (ultrasound).
Example 1: A patient presents with multiple palpable thyroid nodules.The physician performs an ultrasound-guided FNA biopsy of the largest nodule (coded 10005).Additional nodules are sampled using the same ultrasound guidance and technique. Code 10006 is added for each additional nodule biopsied., A patient presents with multiple suspicious breast masses.The physician performs a core needle biopsy on the largest mass and an FNA biopsy on a smaller mass using ultrasound guidance (10005). Subsequently, the physician performs an additional ultrasound guided FNA biopsy on another separate breast mass. Code 10006 will be reported for this second FNA lesion, with modifier 59 appended to 10005 if different imaging guidance is used., A patient has several lymph nodes suspicious for metastasis.The physician performs an ultrasound-guided FNA biopsy of one lymph node (coded 10005). During the same session, the physician performs additional ultrasound-guided FNA biopsies on two more lymph nodes.Two units of code 10006 would be reported, one for each additional node.
* Detailed history and physical examination of the patient.* Indication for the procedure (e.g., suspicious mass, palpable lump).* Imaging study (ultrasound) showing the location of lesions.* Detailed description of the procedure including the number of lesions sampled.* Pathology report on the aspirated material.
** For evaluation of fine needle aspirate, see CPT codes 88172, 88173, 88177.Always refer to the most current CPT manual and payer specific guidelines for the most accurate coding and reimbursement information.
- Revenue Code: P6C (Medicare Fee Schedule: MINOR PROCEDURES - OTHER)
- RVU: Information not available in provided text. Consult official CPT manual and Medicare fee schedules for RVU values.
- Global Days: Information not available in provided text.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Fee Schedule: Information not available in provided text. Consult official CPT manual and Medicare fee schedules for historical fee data.
- Specialties:Surgery, Radiology, Pathology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center