2025 CPT code 61460
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Nervous System Feed
Suboccipital craniectomy for section of one or more cranial nerves.
Modifiers may be applicable in specific scenarios, such as increased procedural services (modifier 22) or multiple procedures (modifier 51).
Medical necessity for 61460 must be supported by evidence of significant neurological symptoms and the failure of conservative treatments. For instance, an acoustic neuroma causing debilitating hearing loss or vertigo, or intractable trigeminal neuralgia unresponsive to medication, would justify the procedure.
The surgeon performs the procedure under general anesthesia. They create an incision behind the ear, exposing the skull bone. A specialized drill then creates an opening to access the affected cranial nerves and remove the tumor. Nerve stimulation is done throughout to prevent damage.
In simple words: The surgeon makes an incision at the base of the skull to access specific nerves. This is often done to treat a non-cancerous tumor on the nerves that control balance and hearing.
This procedure involves an incision in the upper back of the neck to access and sever one or more cranial nerves. It's frequently used to address vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas), benign tumors affecting nerves responsible for balance and hearing, situated between the brain and inner ear.
Example 1: A patient presents with a vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) causing hearing loss and balance problems. A suboccipital craniectomy is performed to remove the tumor and preserve surrounding nerves., A patient diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia experiences severe facial pain. 61460 is performed to section the affected cranial nerves and provide pain relief., A patient with a Chiari malformation requires decompression of the affected area. During a suboccipital craniectomy, the surgeon sections specific cranial nerves to alleviate pressure and address the associated neurological symptoms.
Documentation should include operative reports, imaging results confirming the diagnosis (e.g., MRI for acoustic neuroma), and any neurological evaluations detailing the patient's symptoms.
** For acoustic neuroma cases, the surgeon may choose different approaches (e.g., translabyrinthine, middle fossa) depending on tumor size and hearing preservation goals.
- Specialties:Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center