2025 CPT code 32607
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Respiratory System Surgery Feed
Thoracoscopy with diagnostic biopsy(ies) of lung infiltrate(s) (e.g., wedge, incisional), unilateral.
Modifiers may apply depending on the circumstances of the procedure.Consult the CPT guidelines and NCCI edits for specific modifier guidance.
Medical necessity for 32607 is established by the presence of a suspicious lung lesion or infiltrate requiring tissue diagnosis to guide treatment decisions. This could include suspected malignancy, infectious processes, or other concerning findings on imaging studies that require histological confirmation.
The surgeon performs the VATS procedure, including prepping the patient, inserting the thoracoscope, taking biopsies, placing a chest tube, and closing the incisions.An anesthesiologist may assist with lung collapse and ventilation.
In simple words: The doctor uses a small camera and instruments inserted through tiny incisions to look inside the lung and take a sample of an abnormal area for testing.This is done in one lung only.
This CPT code encompasses a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) procedure involving the diagnostic biopsy of lung infiltrate(s) in one lung.The procedure includes insertion of a thoracoscope, examination of the lung area, removal of a tissue sample(s) using techniques like wedge or incisional biopsy, and placement of a chest tube for drainage. Multiple biopsies from the same lung during a single session are included under this single code.This code should not be reported with codes 32440, 32442, 32445, 32488, or 32671 if a lung resection is performed during the same session.
Example 1: A patient presents with a suspicious lung nodule detected on CT scan.The surgeon performs a VATS procedure using code 32607 to obtain a biopsy for pathological analysis. The biopsy confirms the presence of a malignant tumor., A patient with a history of lung infection shows persistent infiltrate on chest x-ray.The surgeon performs a VATS with multiple wedge biopsies (32607) to determine the cause of the infiltrate.Cultures from the biopsy reveal a bacterial infection., A patient experiences shortness of breath and chest pain, revealing a pleural effusion on imaging. The physician performs a VATS (32607) to take biopsies of the lung and the pleural lining to identify the cause of the effusion.
* Pre-operative imaging (CT, X-ray) demonstrating the lung infiltrate.* Operative report detailing the procedure, including the approach (VATS), biopsy technique(s) used, number and location of samples, and assessment of lung expansion.* Pathology report indicating the results of the biopsy.* Anesthesia record.
** Code 32607 is reported only once per lung, regardless of the number of biopsies taken.Always refer to the most current CPT manual and payer-specific guidelines for accurate coding and reimbursement.
- Revenue Code: P8I (ENDOSCOPY - OTHER)
- RVU: Information not available in provided sources.Refer to current year's Medicare Physician Fee Schedule or other relevant payer's fee schedule for RVU values.
- Global Days: Information not available in provided sources. Refer to CPT guidelines or payer-specific information for global period details.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: Information not available in provided sources. Refer to CPT guidelines or payer-specific information.
- Fee Schedule: Information not available in provided sources.Consult historical fee schedules for the relevant years.
- Specialties:Thoracic Surgery, Pulmonary Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Hospital Outpatient