Quick reference guide for CPT codes for Cranial Procedure.
| Official Description | Common Description | Procedure Codes | Possible Additional Codes | Explanations | Work RVU | Total RVU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgery of simple intracranial aneurysm, intracranial approach; carotid circulation | Clipping of aneurysms that are less than 15 mm, without calcification of the aneurysm neck, without incorporation of normal vessels into the aneurysm neck, and/or a procedure not requiring temporary vessel occlusion, trapping or cardiopulmonary bypass | 61700 | +69990 - use of microscope | 61700 - 50.62; +69990 - 3.46 | 61700 - 100.11; +69990 - 6.43 | |
| Bicoronal or Unilateral Frontal Craniotomy for Extradural Craniofacial Approach to Anterior Cranial Fossa | 61582 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61582 - 35.14; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61582 - 87.66; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | ||
| Craniotomy and Evacuation Cerebellar Hematoma | 61315 | 61315 - 29.65 | 61315 - 60.77 | |||
| Craniectomy or craniotomy, drainage of intracranial abscess; supratentorial | Craniotomy for frontal sinus, epidural or brain abscess | 61320 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61320 - 27.42; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61320 - 55.76; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Cranioplasty for skull defect; larger than 5 cm diameter | Cranioplasty > 5 CM | 62141 | 62141 - 16.07 | 62141 - 33.37 | ||
| Cranioplasty for skull defect; up to 5 cm diameter | Cranioplasty < 5 CM | 62140 | 62140 - 14.55 | 62140 - 30.22 | ||
| Craniotomy and Evacuation of Intracerebral Hematoma, Supratentorial | 61313 | 61313 - 28.09 | 61313 - 58.17 | |||
| Craniotomy and Resection of Brain AVM | 61680 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61680 - 32.55; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61680 - 66.33; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | ||
| Craniectomy for excision of brain tumor, infratentorial or posterior fossa; except meningioma, cerebellopontine angle tumor, or midline tumor at base of skull | Craniotomy/craniectomy and excision of tumor of posterior fossa e.g., glioma or metastatic brain tumor DO NOT USE THIS CODE FOR MENINGIOMA, CPA TUMOR, MIDLINE TUMOR | 61518 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61518 - 39.89; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61518 - 80.88; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy for excision of brain tumor, infratentorial or posterior fossa; meningioma | Posterior fossa craniotomy/craniectomy and excision of meningioma | 61519 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61519 - 43.43; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61519 - 86.34; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap craniotomy; for excision of brain tumor, supratentorial, except meningioma | Craniotomy and resection of brain tumor | 61510 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | +61781 - 3.75; 61510 - 30.83; +69990-59 - 3.46 | +61781 - 6.96; 61510 - 64.04; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap craniotomy; for excision of meningioma, supratentorial | Craniotomy and resection of meningioma | 61512 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61512 -37.14 ; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61512 - 74.79; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy or craniotomy for evacuation of hematoma, infratentorial; extradural or subdural | Posterior Fossa Subdural(SDH) or Epidural Hematoma(EDH) Evacuation | 61314 | 61314 - 25.90 | 61314 - 53.62 | ||
| Craniectomy or craniotomy, decompressive, with or without duraplasty, for treatment of intracranial hypertension, without evacuation of associated intraparenchymal hematoma; with lobectomy | 61323 - decompressive craniectomy with brain resection; +61316 - if bone flap placed in abdominal subcutaneous pocket; cannot bill separately for duraplasty or removal of intraparenchymal hematoma or contusion | 61323 | +61316 | 61323 - 35.06; +61316 - 1.39 | 61323 - 70.75; +61316 - 2.62 | |
| Craniectomy or craniotomy, decompressive, with or without duraplasty, for treatment of intracranial hypertension, without evacuation of associated intraparenchymal hematoma; without lobectomy | 61322 - decompressive craniectomy without brain resection; +61316 - if bone flap placed in abdominal subcutaneous pocket; cannot bill separately for duraplasty or removal of intraparenchymal hematoma or contusion | 61322 | +61316 | 61322 - 34.26; +61316 - 1.39 | 61322 - 69.85; +61316 - 2.62 | |
| Elevation of Complex Comminuted Depressed Skull Fracture, Extradural | 62005 | 62005 - 17.53 | 62005 - 36.92 | |||
| Elevation of Depressed Skull Fracture, Intradural, Dural Repair, Debridement of Brain for Gunshot Wound to Head | 62010 | 62010 - 21.43 | 62010 - 44.87 | |||
| Elevation of Simple Depressed Skull Fracture, Extradural | 62000 | 62000 - 13.93 | 62000 - 28.02 | |||
| Twist drill hole(s) for subdural, intracerebral, or ventricular puncture; for implanting ventricular catheter, pressure recording device, or other intracerebral monitoring device | Intracranial Monitor Placement or Ventriculostomy with twist drill | +61107 | +61107 - 4.99 | +61107 - 9.27 | ||
| Open Treatment of Frontal Sinus Fracture with Exoneration of Frontal Sinus | 21343 | 21343 - 14.32 | 21343 - 34.98 | |||
| Posterior Fossa Craniectomy and Evacuation of Hematoma | Add +61210 if burr hole and ventriculostomy is done | 61315 | 61315 - 29.65; +61210 - 5.83 | 61315 - 60.77; +61210 - 10.91 | ||
| Resection of Neoplactic, Vascular or Infection Lesion of Base of Anterior Cranial Fossa, Extradural | Craniotomy for mucocele; +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61600 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61600 - 30.81; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61600 - 61.42; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Skull Lesion Biopsy | 61500 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61500 - 19.18 +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61500 - 38.44; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | ||
| Craniectomy or craniotomy for evacuation of hematoma, supratentorial; extradural or subdural | Subdural(SDH) or Epidural Hematoma(EDH) Evacuation | 61312 | +RT and +LT for bilateral hematomas | 61312 - 30.17 | 61312 - 61.05 | |
| Ventriculostomy placement with burr hole | +61210 | +61210 - 5.83 | +61210 - 10.91 | |||
| Neuroendoscopy, intracranial; with excision of pituitary tumor, transnasal or trans-sphenoidal approach | 62165 - Endoscopic TSA - (Transphenoidal Adenectomy); 20926-51 - fat graft; 62272 - lumbar drain placement; +61781 - neuronavigation; use -62 modifier for co-surgeon if ENT surgeon did the approach but only on code 62165 and any other code performed by ENT surgeon | 62165 | 20926-51, 62272 | 62165 - 23.23; 20926-51 - No RVU; 62272 - 1.35; +61781 - 3.75; | 62165 - 44.88; 20926-51 - No RVU; 62272 - 2.43; +61781 - 6.96 | |
| TSA - Transphenoidal Adenectomy | Add +61781 if neuronavigation was used; add 20926-51 for fat graft if done; use -62 modifier if ENT surgeon was co-surgeon | 61548 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61548 - 23.37 | 61548 - 46.04 | |
| Stereotactic biopsy, aspiration, or excision, including burr hole(s), for intracranial lesion; with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance guidance | Add +61781 for neuronavigation | 61751 | 61751 - 18.79; +61781 - 3.75 | 61751 - 40.52; +61781 - 6.96 | ||
| Removal of bone flap or skull which includes I & D, culture and clean out | 62142 | 62142 - 11.83 | 62142 - 25.95 | |||
| Secondary repair of dura for CSF leak, anterior, middle or posterior cranial fossa with free tissue or synthetic graft | includes pericranium, adipose tissue, synthetic graft | 61618 | 61618 - 18.69 | 61618 - 37.73 | ||
| Secondary repair of dura for CSF leak, anterior, middle or posterior cranial fossa with vascularized graft | includes galea, temporalis muscle | 61619 | 61619 - 22.10 | 61619 - 41.69 | ||
| Third Venrticulostomy | 62200 | 62200 - 19.29 | 62200 - 39.68 | |||
| Aneurysm Clipping of Complex Aneurysm Carotid Circulation | Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm | 61697; +69990 | Aneurysm Clipping of Complex Aneurysm Carotid Circulation 61697; +69990 Ophthalmic Artery Aneurysm | 61697 - 123.91; +69990 - 6.43 | ||
| Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap craniotomy; for excision or fenestration of cyst, supratentorial | Craniotomy for resection of cyst DO NOT USE THIS CODE FOR CEREBELLUM OR POSTERIOR FOSSA | 61516 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61516 - 26.58; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61516 - 54.48; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy for excision of brain tumor, infratentorial or posterior fossa; cerebellopontine angle tumor | Craniotomy/craniectomy and excision of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumor e.g., acoustic neuroma, vestibular schwannoma, meningioma | 61520 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61520 - 57.09; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61520 - 110.4; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy for excision of brain tumor, infratentorial or posterior fossa; midline tumor at base of skull | Craniotomy/Craniectomy and excision of midline tumor at skull base e.g., glioma or of 4th ventricle, brainstem, pons | 61521 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61521 - 46.99; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61521 - 93.32; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy, infratentorial or posterior fossa; for excision of brain abscess | Craniotomy for epidural abscess or cerebellar abscess | 61522 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61522 - 31.54; +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61522 - 64.50; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniectomy, infratentorial or posterior fossa; for excision or fenestration of cyst | 61524 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61524 - 29.89 +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61524 - 61.17; +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | ||
| Burr hole(s) or trephine with biopsy of brain or intracranial lesion | Burr hole and brain tumor biopsy | 61140 | +61781 - neuronavigation | 61140 - 17.23 +61781 - 3.75 | 61140 - 36.96; +61781 - 6.96 | |
| Stereotactic biopsy, aspiration, or excision, including burr hole(s), for intracranial lesion; | 61750 | 61750 - 19.83 | 61750 - 41.32 | |||
| Craniectomy or craniotomy, exploratory; supratentorial | 61304 | 61304 - 23.41 | 61304 - 47.97 | |||
| Craniectomy or craniotomy, exploratory; infratentorial (posterior fossa) | 61305 | 61305 - 28.64 | 61305 - 59.25 | |||
| Spinal puncture, therapeutic, for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (by needle or catheter) | Spinal Tap, Lumbar Drain Placement | 62272 | 62272 - 1.35 | 62272 - 2.43 | ||
| Surgery of complex intracranial aneurysm, intracranial approach; vertebrobasilar circulation | Clipping of aneurysms that are larger than 15 mm, with calcification of the aneurysm neck, with incorporation of normal vessels into the aneurysm neck, and/or a procedure requiring temporary vessel occlusion, trapping or cardiopulmonary bypass | 61698 | +69990 - use of microscope | 61698 - 69.63; +69990 - 3.46 | 61698 - 136.58; +69990 - 6.43 | |
| Surgery of simple intracranial aneurysm, intracranial approach; vertebrobasilar circulation | Clipping of aneurysms that are less than 15 mm, without calcification of the aneurysm neck, without incorporation of normal vessels into the aneurysm neck, and/or a procedure not requiring temporary vessel occlusion, trapping or cardiopulmonary bypass | 61702 | +69990 - use of microscope | 61702 - 60.04 +69990 - 3.46 | 61702 - 117.93; +69990 - 6.43 | |
| Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 2.5 cm or less | Repair of scalp laceration | 12001 | 12001 - 0.84 | 12001 - 1.27 | ||
| Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm | Repair of scalp laceration | 12002 | 12002 - 1.14 | 12002 - 1.68 | ||
| Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet); 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm | Repair of scalp laceration | 12004 | 12004 - 1.44 | 12004 - 2.10 | ||
| Burr hole(s) or trephine; with drainage of brain abscess or cyst | Burr hole to drain intracranial abscess | 61150 | +61781 - neuronavigation | 61150 - 18.90 +61781 - 3.75 | 61150 - 39.76; +61781 - 6.96 | |
| Burr hole(s) or trephine; with subsequent tapping (aspiration) of intracranial abscess or cyst | Subsequent tap through previously made burr hole to drain intracranial abscess | 61151 | 61151 - 13.49 | 61151 - 29.26 | ||
| Craniectomy, trephination, bone flap craniotomy; for excision of brain abscess, supratentorial | Craniotomy for resection of brain abscess | 61514 | +61781 - neuronavigation; +69990-59 - microscope | 61514 - 27.23 +61781 - 3.75; +69990-59 - 3.46 | 61514 - 55.79 +61781 - 6.96; +69990-59 - 6.43 | |
| Craniofacial approach to anterior cranial fossa; intradural, including unilateral or bifrontal craniotomy, elevation or resection of frontal lobe, osteotomy of base of anterior cranial fossa | 61583 | 61583 - 38.50 | 61583 - 84.41 | |||
| Cranioplasty for skull defect with reparative brain surgery | Cranioplasty for skull defect with reparative brain surgery | 62145 | 62145 - 20.09 | 62145 - 41.47 |