CPT 38500 Biopsy or excision of lymph node(s); open, superficial
Last reviewed: May 17, 2026
RVU Values (CMS PFS RVU26C July 2026)
Common Modifiers
None typically required
Related ICD-10 Codes
R59.9, C77.2, D36.0
Billing Tips
When billing CPT 38500, ensure your operative note clearly documents the procedure performed, clinical indication, and any complications or additional work that would support modifier usage. Always verify the code against the current AMA CPT Professional Edition before claim submission.
For multi-procedure cases, use our Case Builder to automatically calculate adjusted wRVUs with proper MPPR ranking.
Documentation and Coding Notes
AdSense readiness coding note: CPT 38500 should be treated as an educational starting point, not a final billing instruction. For biopsy or excision of lymph node(s); open, superficial, the operative note or procedure note should clearly support the approach, anatomic site, laterality when relevant, clinical indication, and any separately reportable services.
Before submitting a claim or logging the case, compare CPT 38500 with adjacent codes in the same family, confirm current AMA CPT language, check CMS/NCCI edits, and verify payer-specific bundling rules. Modifier use should be tied to documentation rather than added only to bypass an edit.
Common audit checks for common general cases include whether the documented work matches the code descriptor, whether add-on services are separately supported, whether a global period applies, and whether ICD-10 diagnosis pairing supports medical necessity.
Related CPT Codes in Common General
CPT 38510 — Biopsy or excision of lymph node(s); open, deep cervical nod CPT 38505 — Needle or trocar biopsy, lymph node; deep (eg, internal mamm CPT 31600 — Tracheostomy, planned (separate procedure); CPT 31601 — Tracheostomy, planned (separate procedure); younger than 2 y CPT 31603 — Tracheostomy, emergency procedure; transtracheal CPT 43246 — Esophagogastroduodenoscopy, flexible, transoral; with directUse our free interactive decision tree with 500+ codes across 30 specialties
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