Radical resection of a soft tissue tumor — such as a sarcoma — located in the upper arm or elbow region, where the excised specimen measures less than 5 cm.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 6 sources ↓

Medicare: $957.94
Total RVUs: 28.68
Global, days: 90
Region: Elbow

Drawn from CMSFacsAAPCMdclarityPayerprice

Documentation requirements

What must appear in the operative or office note to support the claim.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 6 cited references ↓

Operative note must state 'radical resection' explicitly — not 'excision' or 'removal' — and describe the surgical margins achieved.
Specimen size documented as less than 5 cm; if 5 cm or greater, 24079 applies.
Anatomic location specified as upper arm or elbow soft tissue, not cutaneous or subcutaneous origin.
Pathology report or intraoperative specimen submission note confirming tumor type and margin status.
Imaging (MRI preferred) documenting tumor extent prior to surgery to support medical necessity.
If modifier 22 is used, a separate attestation paragraph quantifying the additional work and time compared to a typical radical resection.

Applicable modifiers

Modifiers commonly billed with this code.

Source · AMA CPT modifier descriptors · CMS NCCI Policy Manual

22 Increased complexity 51 Multiple procedures 52 Reduced services 59 Distinct service 76 Repeat, same physician 77 Repeat, another physician 78 Unplanned return — related 79 Unrelated during global LT Left side RT Right side

What this code covers

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 6 cited references ↓

24077 covers radical resection of a soft tissue tumor in the upper arm or elbow area when the specimen is under 5 cm. 'Radical resection' means wide-margin excision aimed at complete oncologic clearance — not a simple or marginal excision. The parenthetical example in the descriptor is sarcoma, signaling the oncologic intent of this code. Top billing specialties are surgical oncology and general surgery.

Simple and intermediate wound closure, tissue plane dissection, and tumor mobilization are all bundled into 24077. Complex repair, adjacent tissue transfer, flaps, grafts, and appreciable neuroplasty are separately reportable when all technical requirements are met and documented. Cutaneous tumors — sebaceous cysts, melanoma requiring only skin-level excision — do not belong here; those go to the 11400–11446 or 11600–11646 series.

The 90-day global period covers all routine post-op visits through day 90. Unrelated procedures in that window need modifier 79; unplanned returns for a related complication need modifier 78. Prior authorization is frequently required by commercial payers for oncologic resections — confirm before scheduling.

RVU & reimbursement

Component RVUs and Medicare national rate. Actual payment varies by GPCI locality.

Source · CMS Physician Fee Schedule, RVU26A · January 2026

Work RVU	15.33
Practice expense RVU	9.82
Malpractice RVU	3.53
Total RVU	28.68
Medicare national rate	$957.94
Global period	90 days

Payment by site of service

Medicare pays different rates by setting. HOPD typically pays substantially more than ASC for the same procedure.

Source · CMS OPPS Addendum B·ASC HCPCS payment rates·2026

Setting	Medicare rate (national)
Office (PFS non-facility) Procedure performed in physician's office	$957.94
HOPD (APC 5073) Hospital outpatient department	$2,967.63
ASC (PI G2) Ambulatory surgical center (freestanding)	$1,248.36

Common denial reasons

The recurring reasons claims for CPT 24077 get rejected.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CMS NCCI edits, AAOS coding appeals, and cited references ↓

Procedure coded as simple or marginal excision (24071/24073) but billed as radical resection without margin documentation to support oncologic intent.
Tumor size not documented or documented at 5 cm or greater, triggering a code mismatch with 24079.
Missing prior authorization from commercial payer for oncologic soft tissue resection.
Cutaneous tumor origin (e.g., sebaceous cyst) billed under musculoskeletal series instead of 11400–11446.
Global period violation — routine post-op visit billed separately without modifier 24 establishing an unrelated diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 6 cited references ↓

01What separates 24077 from 24073?

24073 is a subfascial excision of a soft tissue tumor in the upper arm or elbow — marginal or intracapsular margins are acceptable. 24077 is radical resection, meaning wide oncologic margins with intent to clear all malignant tissue. The distinction is surgical intent and margin approach, not just tumor size.

02When does 24079 apply instead of 24077?

24079 is the correct code when the specimen is 5 cm or greater. Measure the specimen, document it in the operative note, and let the size drive the code. If the pre-op MRI showed 4.8 cm but the specimen measures 5.1 cm after excision, bill 24079.

03Can complex wound closure be billed separately?

Yes, but only when all technical requirements for complex repair, adjacent tissue transfer, or flap/graft are fully performed and documented. Simple and intermediate closure are bundled. Append modifier 59 to the closure code and document the distinct nature of the repair in the operative note.

04Is modifier 50 appropriate for 24077?

Only if radical resection of a qualifying soft tissue tumor is performed on both the left and right upper arm or elbow in the same operative session — a rare clinical scenario. If it happens, document bilateral tumors in the pre-op workup and operative note.

05Does the 90-day global cover oncology follow-up visits?

Routine surgical follow-up within the global is bundled. Oncology-specific evaluation and management visits — discussing pathology results, staging, or systemic treatment planning — are not routine post-op care. Bill those with modifier 24 and a distinct diagnosis code supporting the unrelated or beyond-surgical-care nature of the visit.

06What ICD-10 diagnoses support medical necessity for 24077?

Soft tissue sarcoma of the upper arm (C49.12, C49.11) and malignant neoplasm codes for the elbow region are the primary drivers. Benign tumors (D21.12, D21.11) can qualify when radical resection is clinically indicated due to size, location, or recurrence risk — document the clinical rationale explicitly.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the surgical approach, confirmed anatomic site (upper arm vs. elbow), specimen measurement in centimeters, margin description, and whether additional closure techniques (flap, graft, neuroplasty) were performed. That prevents the most common audit flag on 24077: an operative note that documents 'excision of mass' without language establishing radical, margin-directed resection or confirming sub-5 cm specimen size.

See how Mira captures CPT 24077 documentation