Reporting Mucosal Flaps with CPT 62155

Question:

When CPT 62165 (neuroendoscopic excision of pituitary tumor) is performed and a mucosal (nasoseptal) flap is used to repair an existing or intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, may the mucosal flap be reported separately using an unlisted CPT code?

Answer:

When a CSF leak is encountered during the procedure described by CPT 62165, the work required to close the defect including creation and placement of a mucosal or nasoseptal flap is inherent to CPT 62165 and is not separately reportable. The AMA CPT® Assistant explicitly addresses this scenario:

‘If a CSF leak is encountered during the pituitary tumor excision (62165),“the necessary closure would be included in the work” of 62165. Therefore, adjacent tissue transfer or flap codes (e.g., nasoseptal flap) are not separately reportable.”

*This response is based on the best information available as of 07/16/26.