48500 Surgery of pancreatic cyst
Also known as: Pancreatic cyst surgery, cyst drainage, cyst resection
Surgical management of a pancreatic cyst including marsupialization, cyst-enterostomy, or cyst excision to relieve obstruction or infection.
In Plain Language
Surgically treating pancreatic cyst
Clinical Context
Performed for symptomatic pancreatic cysts causing pain, infection, or obstruction. Approach depends on cyst characteristics and location.
RVU Breakdown
| Work RVU | 17.71 |
| Total RVU | 17.71 |
Est. Medicare Payment
National estimate based on 2026 CMS PFS Conversion Factor ($33.40). Actual payment varies by locality (GPCI adjustment).
Billing & Documentation
As a surgical CPT code, proper documentation must include the operative report detailing the procedure performed, patient positioning, approach, findings, and any complications. This code has a 90-day global period, which includes the day of the procedure, 1 day preoperative, and 90 days of postoperative care. Ensure the diagnosis code (ICD-10) supports medical necessity for the procedure.
How This Code Compares
With a work RVU of 17.71, this code ranks in the 79th percentile among Surgery codes — 2.2x the median (8.00). The highest wRVU in this category is 106.19.
Specialties
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CPT code 48500?
CPT 48500 (Surgery of pancreatic cyst) is a Surgery code. Surgical management of a pancreatic cyst including marsupialization, cyst-enterostomy, or cyst excision to relieve obstruction or infection.
What is the wRVU value for CPT 48500?
The work RVU for CPT 48500 is 17.71. This code is primarily used by General Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery. It has a 90-day global period.
When is CPT 48500 used?
Performed for symptomatic pancreatic cysts causing pain, infection, or obstruction. Approach depends on cyst characteristics and location.
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CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. Data sourced from CMS Physician Fee Schedule RVU26A. Descriptions, synonyms, and clinical context are original content by RVU Edge.