2025 CPT code 19297
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Feed
Placement of a radiotherapy afterloading expandable catheter (single or multichannel) into the breast for interstitial radioelement application during a partial mastectomy, including imaging guidance.
Modifiers may be applicable to this code to indicate specific circumstances, such as reduced services or bilateral procedures.
Medical necessity for this code is established by the need for brachytherapy following partial mastectomy for breast cancer treatment.The documentation should support the medical necessity of both the partial mastectomy and the brachytherapy.
The physician performs the placement of the radiotherapy afterloading expandable catheter during the partial mastectomy procedure, using imaging guidance for accurate placement.
In simple words: During a partial mastectomy, the doctor inserts a small, flexible tube (catheter) into the breast. This catheter will be used later to deliver radiation therapy directly to the area where the tumor was removed.The doctor uses imaging technology to guide the placement of the catheter.This procedure is done at the same time as the partial mastectomy.
Placement of radiotherapy afterloading expandable catheter (single or multichannel) into the breast for interstitial radioelement application following partial mastectomy, includes imaging guidance; concurrent with partial mastectomy (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure) (Use 19297 in conjunction with 19301 or 19302)
Example 1: A patient undergoes a partial mastectomy for breast cancer. At the same time, the surgeon places a single-channel expandable catheter into the tumor cavity for later delivery of brachytherapy., A patient has a partial mastectomy, and the surgeon inserts a multichannel expandable catheter to allow for more targeted radiation therapy to the affected area., During a partial mastectomy, the physician places an expandable catheter for brachytherapy. The catheter placement is performed using imaging guidance to ensure it is in the correct location for subsequent radiation treatment.
Documentation should include details of the partial mastectomy procedure, type of catheter inserted, method of placement (imaging guidance), and location of placement within the breast. The operative report should clearly indicate that the catheter placement was performed concurrently with the partial mastectomy.
** This code represents the placement of the catheter only. The subsequent delivery of brachytherapy is reported separately.
- Revenue Code: P1A - Major Procedure - Breast
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital - Inpatient, Hospital - Outpatient