2025 CPT code 62270
(unknown) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Nervous System Feed
Spinal puncture, lumbar, diagnostic.
Medical necessity for a lumbar puncture must be clearly documented. The reason for the procedure, such as suspected meningitis or other neurological condition, should be stated along with supporting clinical findings and the potential benefit of the procedure for diagnosis or treatment.
The physician is responsible for performing the lumbar puncture, including patient positioning (usually on their side with knees drawn to the chest), administering local anesthesia, inserting the spinal needle into the lumbar region, collecting the CSF sample, and ensuring proper sterile technique throughout the procedure. Patient monitoring and post-procedure care are also part of the physician's responsibilities.
In simple words: A spinal tap, also known as a lumbar puncture, is a procedure where a doctor uses a needle to take a sample of fluid from your lower back. This fluid, called cerebrospinal fluid, surrounds your brain and spinal cord. The sample is then tested to help diagnose various conditions, such as infections or other problems with your nervous system.
This code represents a diagnostic lumbar puncture, a procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower back to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for testing. This procedure helps diagnose conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as meningitis, encephalitis, and other neurological disorders. The code includes the collection of CSF but does not include imaging guidance. If imaging guidance like fluoroscopy or CT is used, different codes (e.g., 62328) should be reported.
Example 1: A patient presents with symptoms suggestive of meningitis, such as fever, headache, and stiff neck. A lumbar puncture (62270) is performed to collect CSF for analysis to confirm or rule out the diagnosis., A patient with multiple sclerosis experiences new neurological symptoms. A lumbar puncture is performed to analyze the CSF for signs of disease activity or other potential causes., An infant presents with a high fever and no identifiable source of infection. A lumbar puncture is performed to rule out meningitis or other serious infections.
Documentation for 62270 should include the indication for the lumbar puncture, patient consent, details of the procedure (including needle size and location of insertion), amount of CSF collected, appearance of the CSF, any complications encountered, and post-procedure instructions to the patient.
- Specialties:Neurology, Neurosurgery, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office, and other places of service where lumbar punctures can be safely performed.