2025 CPT code 32994
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System Feed
Cryoablation of pulmonary tumor(s), including pleura or chest wall, percutaneous, unilateral.
Modifiers such as 22 (Increased Procedural Services), 52 (Reduced Services), 53 (Discontinued Procedure), 59 (Distinct Procedural Service), 73, and 74 can be applied when appropriate.
Medical necessity must be established by demonstrating that cryoablation is an appropriate treatment for the patient's specific lung tumor, considering factors like tumor size, location, and the patient's overall health.
The provider makes a small incision, inserts the cryoprobe, uses imaging guidance if needed, applies cold gas to freeze the tumor, repeats the freezing process, and closes the incision.
In simple words: This procedure uses a needle-like probe inserted through the skin to freeze and destroy lung tumors on one side of the chest. Imaging may be used to guide the probe.If both lungs need the procedure, a different code is used.
Ablation therapy for reduction or eradication of 1 or more pulmonary tumor(s) including pleura or chest wall when involved by tumor extension, percutaneous, including imaging guidance when performed, unilateral; cryoablation. (For bilateral procedure, report 32998 with modifier 50)
Example 1: A patient with a single small lung tumor on the right side undergoes percutaneous cryoablation., A patient has a tumor in the left lung that extends to the chest wall; cryoablation is performed., Imaging guidance is used in a percutaneous cryoablation procedure to target a tumor located deep within the lung tissue.
Documentation should include details about the tumor size, location, and extension, confirmation of percutaneous approach, use of imaging guidance (if applicable), and number of tumors treated.
- Revenue Code: P6C - MINOR PROCEDURES - OTHER (MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE)
- Specialties:Thoracic Surgery, Interventional Radiology, Pulmonology
- Place of Service:Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Outpatient, Inpatient Hospital