CPT 58662 is the correct code whenever a surgeon performs laparoscopic fulguration or excision of pathological tissue from the ovary, pelvic viscera (uterus, fallopian tube, bladder, bowel, ureter, broad ligament), or peritoneal surface. The "by any method" language is intentional: the code applies regardless of whether the surgeon uses bipolar electrocautery, monopolar cautery, laser ablation, harmonic scalpel, or cold scissors excision.
Primary indications include:
What this code does not capture:
This code is performed in ASC and hospital outpatient settings under general anesthesia. CMS has approved it for ASC payment since CY 2007 at OPPS-weighted rates. Hospital outpatient claims are paid through a comprehensive APC [1]. There is no facility-versus-non-facility PE differential for this code; RVUs are 19.36 total in both settings for 2026 [1].
| Code | Description | When to Use Instead |
|---|---|---|
| 58662 | Laparoscopy, surgical; fulguration or excision of lesions of the ovary, pelvic viscera, or peritoneal surface by any method | Lesions destroyed or excised without removing the ovary or tube |
| 49320 | Laparoscopy, abdomen, diagnostic (separate procedure) | Diagnostic inspection only, no treatment performed; always bundled into 58662 when treatment is done |
| 58660 | Laparoscopy, surgical; lysis of adhesions (salpingolysis, ovariolysis) | Primary purpose is lysing adhesions rather than destroying/excising a lesion; may be separately reportable with modifier 59 when performed alongside 58662 |
| 58661 | Laparoscopy, surgical; removal of adnexal structures (partial or total oophorectomy and/or salpingectomy) | The ovary or fallopian tube is removed; do not use 58662 when the organ itself is resected |
| 58670 | Laparoscopy, surgical; fulguration of oviducts (with or without transection) | Tubal sterilization by electrocautery; not for pelvic lesion treatment |
| 58671 | Laparoscopy, surgical; occlusion of oviducts by device | Tubal sterilization by clip or band; not for pelvic lesion treatment |
The critical read is the operative report: if the surgeon destroys or removes lesion tissue but leaves the ovary and tube intact, 58662 is correct. If the organ is excised in whole or in part, 58661 governs. These two codes are frequently miscoded in endometrioma cases where the surgeon removes the cyst wall but preserves ovarian tissue; that is 58662 (excision of lesion of ovary), not 58661.
Modifier 22 (Increased Procedural Services)
Modifier 22 is appropriate when documented complexity substantially exceeds the typical 58662 service, most commonly in extensive endometriosis cases with multi-organ involvement, dense adhesion formation, or significantly prolonged operative time. Documentation must specifically quantify the increased complexity; a generic statement that the procedure was "difficult" will not sustain the modifier on audit. The carrier will review operative records before paying the increased amount. Attach a cover letter with the claim quantifying additional time and complexity [1].
Modifier 51 (Multiple Procedures)
Do not apply modifier 51 to 58662 or secondary laparoscopic procedures billed alongside it. The Multiple Procedures Indicator for 58662 is 3, meaning special endoscopic payment adjustment rules apply instead of the standard 50% reduction. When 58662 is billed with additional surgical laparoscopies (e.g., 58660), the highest-valued procedure is paid at 100% of the fee schedule; each lesser-valued procedure is paid at its fee schedule amount minus the base diagnostic laparoscopy (49320) value [1].
Modifier 58 (Staged Procedure)
When the surgical plan requires a second laparoscopy during the 90-day global period, append modifier 58 to 58662 for the subsequent procedure. This opens a new 90-day global period and allows separate payment. Staged intent should be documented in the original operative report or a separate treatment plan.
Modifier 59 (Distinct Procedural Service) and X-Modifiers
When 58660 (lysis of adhesions) is performed alongside 58662 and is subject to an NCCI PTP edit, modifier 59 or the appropriate X-modifier (XS for separate structure, XU for non-overlapping service) may establish separate reportability. Documentation must support that adhesiolysis constituted a distinct, medically necessary service beyond the standard access work for the lesion excision.
Modifier 62 (Co-Surgeons)
Co-surgeon billing is permitted for 58662 with no additional documentation required when the two-specialty requirement is met [1]. Each surgeon bills 58662-62 and receives 62.5% of the Medicare fee schedule amount. A common scenario is gynecologic oncologist plus urologist for endometriosis involving the ureter.
Modifiers 80/82 (Assistant Surgeon)
No Medicare payment restriction applies to assistant surgeons for this procedure (indicator 2). Bill 58662-80 or 58662-82 as applicable [1].
MUE and Units
The MUE is 1 per date of service, Type 2 (Date of Service Edit: Policy), based on anatomic consideration [2]. Billing more than one unit of 58662 on the same date will deny. All lesion sites treated through the same laparoscopic access are captured by a single unit, regardless of how many discrete lesions or how many anatomical locations are treated.
Add-On Code 49327
49327 (placement of interstitial device(s) for radiation therapy guidance, intra-abdominal/intrapelvic) may be reported in addition to 58662 when applicable. It is a true add-on code requiring a primary procedure.
Bilateral Modifier
The bilateral indicator for 58662 is 0; do not append modifier 50. Bilateral ovarian or peritoneal disease does not trigger bilateral payment adjustment for this code [1].
Required operative report elements:
Diagnosis documentation:
ICD-10-CM specificity drives both claim payment and audit outcomes. Since FY2023, the parent endometriosis codes N80.0, N80.1, and N80.3 are deleted [3]. The operative report must document sufficient detail to assign current sub-codes: site, laterality, and depth (superficial vs. deep infiltrating) when assessable. If pathology is obtained, ICD-10-CM coding should be reconciled against the confirmed pathological diagnosis.
Audit red flags specific to 58662:
Medical necessity:
The clinical record prior to surgery must establish that conservative management was attempted or was inappropriate. For endometriosis, this typically means documented history of hormonal therapy, pain management, or prior imaging/diagnosis confirming the condition. A claim supported only by a symptom code (pelvic pain) without pre-operative findings will draw scrutiny on medical necessity review.
Medicare
CMS classifies 58662 as a major surgery with a 90-day global period [1]. The 2026 Medicare payment is approximately $646.64 based on a total RVU of 19.36 and a conversion factor of $33.4009 [1]. Payment applies in both facility and non-facility settings at the same rate (facility and non-facility PE RVUs are identical for this code).
CPT 58662 appears on the ASC-approved procedure list since CY 2007; ASC payment is based on the OPPS relative payment weight [1]. Hospital outpatient payment is through a comprehensive APC.
No CMS National Coverage Determination (NCD) specifically restricts 58662 [1]. Coverage is determined under the reasonable and necessary standard. MAC-specific Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) may apply; coders should verify with the applicable MAC jurisdiction for their geographic region.
CMS permits co-surgeon billing (modifier 62) and assistant surgeon billing (modifiers 80/82) with no payment restriction for this code [1].
Commercial Payers
Commercial payers generally follow Medicare's endoscopic bundling framework, but prior authorization requirements vary significantly. Many commercial plans require prior authorization for elective laparoscopic surgery, including for endometriosis. Failure to obtain authorization is a leading cause of denial that cannot be corrected post-service with modifier submission.
Some commercial payers apply diagnosis-specific coverage restrictions for laparoscopic excision of endometriosis, requiring documented failure of hormonal therapy or a prior diagnostic laparoscopy confirming disease. Verify plan-specific policies before scheduling.
Medicaid
Medicaid fee schedules and prior authorization requirements vary by state and managed Medicaid plan. No state-specific policies for 58662 were confirmed in the research document; verify with the applicable state program or managed care organization.
Denial: NCCI Bundling (49320 billed with 58662)
The most common denial pattern for this code. Diagnostic laparoscopy is the endoscopic base code for 58662; billing both on the same date violates NCCI edits automatically. Remove 49320 from any claim that includes 58662 or any other surgical laparoscopy [1]. No modifier can override this edit; the diagnostic component is definitionally included in the surgical laparoscopy.
Denial: Medical Necessity (Insufficient Diagnosis Support)
Occurs when the ICD-10-CM code on the claim does not adequately support the clinical need for surgical laparoscopy. A standalone symptom code without a confirmed pelvic diagnosis is the primary trigger. Prevention: ensure the diagnosis code reflects the confirmed condition documented in the operative report and pre-operative workup. If endometriosis is confirmed intraoperatively for the first time, that confirmed diagnosis (not the presenting symptom) should be the primary code.
Denial: Invalid ICD-10-CM Code (Deleted Codes)
Claims submitted with deleted endometriosis parent codes (N80.0, N80.1, N80.3 deleted effective 10/1/2022) reject at the payer edit level [3]. Update to current-year sub-codes specifying site, laterality, and depth. Review chargemaster and code sets annually for deleted codes in the N80 range.
Denial: Global Period Violation (Post-op E/M Without Modifier)
Routine follow-up E/M visits within the 90-day global period are included in the 58662 fee and will deny if billed without modifier 24 (unrelated condition) or modifier 79 (unrelated procedure). Document that any separately billed service during the global window is for a condition unrelated to the laparoscopic procedure. For unrelated procedures requiring return to the OR, use modifier 78 (related complication) or 79 (unrelated) as appropriate.
Denial: Modifier 22 Rejected Without Documentation
Carriers will hold or deny claims with modifier 22 pending medical record review. A modifier 22 claim submitted without a cover letter quantifying the increased complexity will stall. Prevention: attach a written explanation of the specific factors that increased procedural work (operative time vs. typical, number of structures involved, extent of disease, anatomical difficulty) with every modifier 22 submission.
Scenario 1: A patient with known endometriosis and dysmenorrhea undergoes laparoscopy. The surgeon identifies and ablates superficial endometrial implants on the right ovary surface and the anterior cul-de-sac using bipolar electrocautery. The ovary and tubes are left intact.
Correct coding: 58662 + N80.101 (endometriosis of right ovary, unspecified depth) + N80.319 (endometriosis of anterior cul-de-sac, unspecified depth)
Why: A single unit of 58662 captures all lesion sites treated through the same laparoscopic access. Both anatomical sites are reported in the diagnosis list because the FY2023 ICD-10-CM expansion requires site-specific codes. Do not bill 49320 separately.
Scenario 2: A patient undergoes laparoscopy for a right ovarian endometrioma (4 cm). The surgeon performs cystectomy of the endometrioma cyst wall, preserving normal ovarian cortex, and excises several peritoneal surface implants. The ovary remains in place.
Correct coding: 58662 + N80.101
Why: Removing the cyst wall while leaving the ovary is excision of a lesion of the ovary (58662), not removal of adnexal structures (58661). Code 58661 applies only when the ovary or tube itself is resected. If pathology confirms endometrioma, N80.101 (or laterality/depth-specific variant) is appropriate.
Scenario 3: A patient with endometriosis and dense pelvic adhesions undergoes laparoscopy. The surgeon spends 45 minutes lysing extensive bowel and pelvic sidewall adhesions, then excises ovarian and peritoneal endometriotic lesions. The operative note separately describes the adhesiolysis as requiring significant dissection due to the density and vascularity of the adhesions.
Correct coding: 58662 + 58660-59 + N80.109 + N73.6
Why: When adhesiolysis constitutes a distinct, documented surgical service beyond routine access work, 58660 may be separately reportable with modifier 59. Apply Multiple Procedures Indicator 3 endoscopic reduction rules: 58662 pays at 100%; 58660 pays at (58660 fee schedule minus 49320 base value). Verify current NCCI PTP edit status for this pair before billing.
Scenario 4: A gynecologic oncologist and urologist operate together laparoscopically to excise deep infiltrating endometriosis involving the ureter. Both surgeons perform distinct portions of the dissection throughout the case.
Correct coding: Both surgeons bill 58662-62 + appropriate endometriosis ICD-10-CM code(s) for sites involved
Why: Co-surgeon billing is permitted for 58662 (indicator 2) without additional documentation when the two-specialty requirement is met (gynecology and urology qualify) [1]. Each surgeon receives 62.5% of the Medicare allowable. If either surgeon provides only minimal assistance rather than performing a distinct portion of the procedure, modifier 80 or 82 is more appropriate than modifier 62.
© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
A laparoscopy with fulguration or excision of lesions of the ovary, pelvic viscera, or peritoneal surface is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows for the examination and treatment of various conditions affecting these areas. During this procedure, a small incision is made in the abdominal wall, typically at the umbilicus, to insert a laparoscope, which is a thin tube equipped with a camera and light source. This enables the surgeon to visualize the internal organs on a monitor. The procedure may involve the use of a tenaculum, a surgical instrument used to grasp the cervix, allowing for better access and manipulation of the uterus. Once the abdominal cavity is inflated with air, creating a pneumoperitoneum, the surgeon can inspect the pelvic area for any abnormalities. If lesions are identified on the ovary, pelvic viscera, or peritoneal surface, they can be treated through excision or destruction using various methods such as laser therapy or electrocautery. This approach not only facilitates the removal of problematic tissue but also minimizes recovery time and reduces the risk of complications associated with more invasive surgical techniques. After the procedure, the surgeon will check for any bleeding, withdraw the instruments, and close the incisions, ensuring that the patient can begin the recovery process promptly.
© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.
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