A mastectomy is the surgical removal of breast tissue due to the presence of a cancerous or precancerous growth. Mastectomy procedures are distinguished by the amount of tissue removed and any other tissues that may be removed and can vary depending on tumor size and type, cancer stage, and whether there is lymph node involvement. The following is a brief description of the mastectomy procedures that can be reported with CPT codes.
Code 19300, Mastectomy for gynecomastia: When the gynecomastia involves the subareolar and nearby tissues, code 19300 is reported. This code defines the excision of moderate amounts of gynecomastia based upon the physician's discretion. Code 19300 is reported for male patients only, as gynecomastia is a male condition
Code 19301, Mastectomy, partial: Partial mastectomy procedures describe open excisions of breast tissue and include specific attention to adequate surgical margins surrounding the breast mass or lesion. In a partial mastectomy, a larger amount of breast tissue and some skin are removed with the tumor. This also includes removal of the lining over chest muscles below the tumor. This surgery is usually performed for stage 1 and 2 tumors. This code is reported also for the performance of a lumpectomy where the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue are removed.
Code 19302, Mastectomy, partial; with axillary lymphadenectomy: When a partial mastectomy is performed with removal of breast tissue, the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor, and the axillary lymph nodes, code 19302 is reported.
Code 19303, Mastectomy, simple, complete: In this procedure, the entire breast is removed, but the lymph nodes and surrounding muscle are left intact. Sometimes prophylactic surgery is performed on the opposite breast in those women who are at high risk for developing contralateral disease. A simple mastectomy, which involves the removal of only the breast tissue, may be performed.
Code 19304, Mastectomy, subcutaneous: The tumor and breast tissue are removed, but the nipple and the overlying skin are left intact. Reconstruction surgery is easier, but some cancer cells may remain. It would be appropriate to report code 19304 if, for example, gynecomastia, as described in code 19300, results in a mastectomy that involves a large portion of the anterior chest wall and the procedure is described by the physician as a subcutaneous mastectomy."
taken from codecorrect