2025 CPT code 19288
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Surgery - Introduction Procedures on the Breast Surgery Feed
Percutaneous placement of each additional breast localization device (e.g., clip, pellet, wire, seeds) with magnetic resonance guidance; add-on code.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the service. Consult the official CPT manual and payer-specific guidelines for applicable modifiers.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of an additional breast lesion requiring localization prior to biopsy or surgical intervention. The use of MRI guidance may be medically necessary based on the lesion's location or characteristics.
The clinical responsibility includes preparing the patient, administering anesthesia (if necessary), obtaining MRI images to locate the lesion, percutaneously placing the additional localization device under MRI guidance, and closing the puncture site.
In simple words: This code covers placing an extra marker in the breast to pinpoint an abnormality.It's only used if another marker was already placed in the same visit, using an MRI scan for guidance. It helps doctors find the exact spot for a biopsy.
This CPT code, 19288, represents the percutaneous placement of each additional breast localization device (such as a clip, metallic pellet, wire/needle, or radioactive seeds) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance.This is an add-on code and should only be reported in addition to a primary procedure code (19287) for the initial lesion localization during the same session.The procedure involves the placement of the device using a minimally invasive technique under MRI guidance to ensure accurate placement. This code is for additional lesions localized within the same session as the initial lesion, even if in the contralateral breast.It does not include the initial placement of the localization device.
Example 1: A patient undergoes a breast biopsy.The initial lesion is localized with a wire placed using ultrasound guidance (19287). During the same procedure, an additional lesion is detected in the contralateral breast and an additional wire is placed under MRI guidance using code 19288., A patient presents for a breast biopsy with two palpable lesions in the same breast. After the placement of the first localization device using ultrasound guidance (19287), the second lesion is localized with a clip using MRI guidance (19288)., During a breast biopsy, the surgeon identifies multiple suspicious areas in one breast. After the placement of the first device using ultrasound (19287), two more devices are placed using MRI guidance for each additional lesion (two units of 19288).
Detailed clinical notes describing the indication for the procedure, the imaging modality used (MRI), the number of additional localization devices placed, the location of each device, and any complications encountered. Images confirming device placement should also be included.
** This code is for use when multiple localization devices are placed in the same session.If a different imaging modality is used for an additional lesion, a separate primary code for that modality should be used.The use of this code implies that the initial localization device has already been placed and billed with the appropriate code.
- Revenue Code: P6C (Medicare Fee Schedule: MINOR PROCEDURES - OTHER)
- RVU: This information is not available in the provided source.Consult the CMS website or other relevant payer resources for RVU data.
- Global Days: This is an add-on code; therefore, a global period does not apply.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: A Technical Component (TC) modifier does not apply to this add-on code.
- Fee Schedule: This information is not available in the provided source.Consult the CMS website or other relevant payer resources for historical fee schedule data.
- Specialties:Surgical Oncology, Radiology, Breast Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center