2025 CPT code 32400
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Excision/Resection Procedures on the Lungs and Pleura Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System Feed
Percutaneous needle biopsy of the pleura.
Modifiers may be applied according to standard coding conventions.For example, modifier -59 may be used to indicate a distinct procedural service.Refer to CPT guidelines for detailed modifier application rules.
Medical necessity for a percutaneous needle pleural biopsy is established when there is a clinical suspicion of pleural disease (e.g., pleural effusion of unknown etiology, suspected malignancy, or inflammatory process), and obtaining a tissue sample for diagnostic purposes is essential for determining treatment.The decision to perform the procedure should be supported by clinical findings and diagnostic imaging.
The physician or qualified healthcare professional is responsible for performing the percutaneous needle pleural biopsy, including proper patient preparation, anesthesia, needle insertion, tissue sample collection, and wound care.This may involve the use of imaging guidance techniques.
- Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System
- Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System > Surgical Procedures on the Lungs and Pleura > Excision/Resection Procedures on the Lungs and Pleura
In simple words: The doctor takes tissue samples from the lining of the lungs using a needle inserted through the skin.This is done to check for disease.Sometimes, special imaging scans are used to guide the needle placement; these would be billed separately.
This CPT code encompasses the percutaneous needle biopsy of the pleura.The procedure involves using a needle inserted through the skin to obtain tissue samples from the pleural lining of the lung.Imaging guidance (such as ultrasound, CT, or fluoroscopy) may be used and should be reported separately if performed. Multiple biopsy samples are typically collected.
Example 1: A 60-year-old male presents with persistent pleural effusion of unknown etiology.A percutaneous needle biopsy of the pleura is performed under ultrasound guidance to obtain tissue for cytological and histological analysis., A 72-year-old female with a history of lung cancer presents with suspected pleural metastasis.A percutaneous needle pleural biopsy is performed under CT guidance to obtain a tissue sample for pathological examination to confirm the diagnosis., A 45-year-old male with a history of asbestos exposure and suspected malignant mesothelioma undergoes a percutaneous needle pleural biopsy under fluoroscopic guidance to confirm diagnosis.Imaging guidance is separately reported.
* Detailed history and physical examination documenting the indication for pleural biopsy.* Documentation of the imaging modality used (if any) for guidance.* Description of the biopsy technique and the number of samples obtained.* Pathology report detailing the results of the analysis.* Operative report detailing procedure performed, findings, and complications (if any).
** The use of this code is dependent upon the specific circumstances of the procedure and should always be compliant with appropriate coding guidelines.Always consult the latest CPT manual for the most current information.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:* Pulmonary Medicine* Thoracic Surgery* Oncology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgery Center