CPT® Code 27645

Radical resection of a tumor in the tibia is a surgical procedure primarily indicated for the removal of malignant neoplasms, although it may also be necessary for benign tumors or tumors of indeterminate nature. This procedure involves making a skin incision directly over the site of the bone tumor or creating and elevating a skin flap to access the affected area. The surgical approach requires careful dissection of the overlying tissue to expose the tumor adequately. During the procedure, all bone and cartilage that show signs of tumor involvement are excised. The tumor is removed en bloc, meaning it is taken out in one piece along with a wide margin of surrounding healthy tissue to ensure complete removal of cancerous cells. This radical resection also necessitates the excision of all involved soft tissues, which may include muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and any tissues surrounding the joints. To confirm that all margins are free of tumor cells, a separately reportable frozen section may be performed during the procedure. If any margins indicate the presence of malignancy, additional tissue will be excised until clear margins are achieved. Post-surgery, drains may be placed as needed to prevent fluid accumulation, and the surgical wound can be closed in layers or may require separately reportable reconstructive procedures, depending on the extent of the resection. For coding purposes, the appropriate CPT® code for radical resection of a bone tumor of the tibia is 27645.