Common Neurosurgery CPT Codes 2025

The demand for neurosurgeons is surging in the USA as the population ages and risks developing chronic subdural hemorrhage (SDH). Researchers at the NYU Langone Medical Center anticipate that by 2030, 60,000 Americans over the age of 65 will develop chronic SDHs, leading to a shortage of neurosurgeons across the country. Currently, there is one board-certified neurosurgeon for every 90,000 people. 

Unfortunately, these numbers seem dismaying when we consider the billing workload of neurosurgeons on top of rendering quality patient care. However, while filling the neurosurgeon shortage requires industry-wide reforms, the billing process can be made easier with know-how on the latest CPT codes for neurosurgery. In this detailed blog, we will look at 2025’s most common neurosurgery CPT codes to help you master coding accuracy. Here’s to starting the new year on a promising note! 

Most Common Neurosurgery CPT Codes

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that neurosurgery is the “cursed” medical specialty. Not only is it the most challenging to specialize in (due to the involvement of the brain and spinal cord, which makes the already complicated surgical techniques and procedures high-stakes), but it is also the most difficult to get paid for. Coding and billing neurosurgery procedures and services is a nightmare, resulting in a high claim denial rate. 

The average claim denial rate for neurology is 18%, while the claim denial rate for all medical specialties combined is between 5% and 10%. Most often, the claims are denied because of coding errors. Therefore, to help you prevent coding-related denials, we have compiled a neurosurgery CPT codes list that reflects the most common neurosurgery procedures for this year, such as craniectomy, laminectomy, neurostimulator implantation, and CSF shunt creation or removal. So, take a look. 

CPT Codes for Neurosurgery Consultations 

Neurosurgeons carefully evaluate and manage the patient’s condition before, during, and after surgery that targets the brain, spinal cord, or nervous system. These consultations are offered to new as well as established patients and can occur in an office/outpatient setting or an inpatient/hospital setting during observations. 

Although the appointments for these consultations are sometimes hard to get, they help the neurologist/neurosurgeon detect the issues early on, reduce complications with the appropriate treatment, and enhance the patient’s quality of life. The following CPT codes are for neurosurgery consultations. 

CPT Codes 99242-99245 – New or Established Patient Office or Outpatient Consultations 

Neurosurgery CPT codes 99242 to 99245 report evaluation and management (E/M) visits between the patient and the neurosurgeon for up to 55 minutes in an office or outpatient setting. The codes are assigned based on the complexity level of medical decision-making, as shown in the table below. 

CPT Code	Description
99242	The consultation lasts at least 20 minutes and involves straightforward medical decision-making.
99243	The consultation lasts at least 30 minutes and involves low-level medical decision-making.
99244	The consultation lasts at least 40 minutes and involves moderate-level medical decision-making.
99245	The consultation lasts at least 55 minutes and involves high-level medical decision-making.

CPT Codes 99252-99255 – New or Established Patient Inpatient or Observation Consultations

Similarly, neurosurgery CPT codes 99252 to 99255 explain to the insurance payer that an evaluation and management (E/M) visit took place between the patient and the neurosurgeon in an inpatient setting or under observation. The consultations can last up to 1 hour and 20 minutes, depending on the complexity level of medical decision-making. You can refer to the table below for clarity. 

CPT Code	Description
99252	The consultation lasts at least 35 minutes and involves straightforward medical decision-making.
99253	The consultation lasts at least 45 minutes and involves low-level medical decision-making.
99254	The consultation lasts at least 60 minutes and involves moderate-level medical decision-making.
99255	The consultation lasts at least 80 minutes and involves high-level medical decision-making.

Neurosurgery CPT Codes for Craniectomy

Craniectomy is a type of emergency brain surgery that involves removing a portion of the skull to relieve brain pressure and swelling. The pressure inside the skull is caused by an injury or stroke. It can damage the brain tissues, causing coma or death. The following neurosurgery CPT codes are for craniectomy procedures and cover brain tumor and lesion removal. 

CPT Code 61305 – Craniectomy, Exploratory – Infratentorial (Posterior Fossa)

Neurosurgery CPT code 61305 reports an exploratory craniectomy at the back of the skull. The provider removes a piece of the skull to access the posterior fossa below the tentorium cerebelli and inspect it for damages, lesions, or tumors. This surgery is usually performed when other diagnostic tests, such as MRI and CT scans, are unable to determine the cause of the patient’s symptoms, like headaches, seizures, and poor vision.  

Please note that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) does not allow you to separately report this neurosurgery CPT code or 61304 if another craniectomy procedure was performed at the same anatomic site in the same patient encounter. This is because “craniectomies always include a general exploration of the accessible field”.

CPT Code 61500 – Craniectomy with Excision of Tumor or Other Bone Lesion

61500 is another frequently reported CPT code for neurosurgery. It explains to the insurance payer that the neurosurgeon removed a small part of the skull bone to access and excise the tumor or any other abnormal growth of the skull bone. 

CPT Code 61510 – Craniectomy, Trephination, Bone Flap Craniotomy

Neurosurgery CPT code 61510 is reported when the surgeon performed craniectomy (removed a part of the skull bone) to access and excise the brain tumor that has formed over the tentorium cerebelli. In this case, the brain tumor is not meningioma and hence, non-cancerous. 

CPT Code 61576 – Transoral Approach to Skull Base, Including Tracheostomy

When abnormal growths are detected at the base of the skull, the neurosurgeon uses the transoral approach to access the skull base through the mouth. This is reported by neurosurgery CPT code 61576. The provider performs a tracheostomy (windpipe incision with midline splitting of the tongue, mandible, or both) to access the brain skull, upper spinal cord, or brain stem, and remove the lesion, obtain a biopsy, or decompress the spinal cord or brain stem. 

Neurosurgery CPT Codes for Neurostimulator Implantation

Neurostimulators are medical devices for deep brain stimulation. When implanted in the brain, neurostimulators generate small electrical pulses that disrupt the flow of abnormal brain signals and successfully reset the “faulty neural pathways”. It must be noted that abnormal or irregular brain activity causes neurological diseases and disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, Tourette syndrome, epilepsy, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). 

Let’s look at the most reported neurosurgery CPT codes for neurostimulator implantation. 

CPT Code 61850 – Neurostimulator Implantation by Twist Drill or Burr Hole(s)

You can use the neurosurgery CPT code 61850 when the surgeon uses a twist drill or a burr hole to create one or more holes and remove a part of the skull bone. He proceeds to place electrodes on the brain cortex to stimulate electrical pulses and regulate brain activity. 

CPT Code 61863 – Neurostimulator Implantation Using Stereotactic Method

Simply put, 61863 is a neurosurgery CPT code that reports deep brain stimulation without real-time monitoring during implantation. The code explains to the insurance payer that the neurosurgeon used a twist drill or burr hole to remove a part of the patient’s skull and used the stereotactic method (three-dimensional coordination) to implant a neurostimulator electrode array on the targeted location (subcortical site). 

However, the procedure does not involve recording intraoperative microelectrode data. You should report this CPT code for neurosurgery as a treatment for chronic tremors, involuntary movements, Parkinson’s disease, muscle contractions, or dystonia.  

CPT Code 61889 – Intracranial Neurostimulator Implantation (Skull-Mounted) 

Another popular neurosurgery CPT code that reports neurostimulator implantation is 61889. During this surgery, the provider implants or mounts a small neurostimulator pulse generator or receiver in the skull directly under the scalp to connect one or more electrode arrays in the brain. The procedure is widely used to treat epilepsy. 

Neurosurgery CPT Codes for Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Shunt Procedures

Hydrocephalus is a medical condition that causes excessive buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. If left untreated, it can lead to disabilities or worse – DEATH! The disease may occur naturally at birth or be the result of a brain injury or infection. While hydrocephalus can occur at any age, infants and adults over 60 are more susceptible. 

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) estimates that of every 1,000 children born in the USA, 1 or 2 are affected by hydrocephalus. To drain the extra cerebrospinal fluid into another part of the body, preferably the abdomen, a shunt or a thin tube is surgically implanted in the brain. This is known as a CSF shunt procedure.

The following neurosurgery CPT codes describe and discuss CSF shunt placements and replacements. Take a look! 

CPT Code 62220 – Placement/Creation of a CSF Shunt

Consider using this neurosurgery CPT code when the surgeon creates a CSF shunt from the brain’s ventricle to the atria, jugular veins, or via the auricular processes (the visible part of the outer ear) to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid into the heart or abdomen where it is absorbed. The procedure treats CSF-filled enlarged ventricles and may include endoscopy for guidance. 

CPT Code 62230 – Revision or Replacement of a CSF Shunt

Neurosurgery CPT code 62230 reports the revision or replacement of a malfunctioning cerebrospinal fluid shunt. The provider uses a neuroendoscope to examine the previously installed but damaged, blocked, or infected CSF shunt (a thin tube) from the brain to another part of the body and replaces it with a new shunt system for effective drainage. The surgery may be required to repair a damaged or blocked shunt, valve, or distal catheter, impeding the drainage of CSF. 

Neurosurgery CPT Codes for Diagnostic Tests 

How can you treat a disease or condition if you don’t even know how to diagnose it? Neurosurgeons are required to perform and interpret diagnostic tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) and computed tomography (CT) scans to detect abnormalities or injuries in the brain, spine, or nervous system. 

Accurate diagnosis leads to successful treatment. Therefore, the following neurosurgery CPT codes report diagnostics tests as the first step to quality patient care. 

CPT Code 70450 – Computed Tomography without Contrast Material

This neurosurgery CPT code reports a computed tomography (CT) scan without using dyes (contrast material). The neurosurgeon scans the patient’s head or brain under a large donut-shaped imaging machine and obtains the images in greyscale (black & white) to diagnose possible intracranial or brain abnormalities. 

CPT Code 70460 – Computed Tomography with Contrast Material

In contrast, code 70460 reports a computed tomography (CT) scan with dyes or contrast material. Again, the patient’s head and brain are scanned under the imaging machine, and colored images are obtained to diagnose possible brain or intracranial abnormalities like cerebral aneurysms. 

CPT Code 70551 – Magnetic Resonance Imaging without Contrast Material 

Neurosurgery CPT code 70551 is used when the provider performs magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the brain and brain stem without using dyes (contrast material). A combination of magnetic fields and radiowaves creates a black-and-white image of the brain to help detect conditions or abnormalities like cysts, tumors, bleeding, or inflammation. 

CPT Code 70552 – Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Contrast Material 

Unlike code 70551, neurosurgery CPT code 70552 reports magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with dyes or contrast material. The images obtained are colored and clearer, helping the provider detect abnormalities in the brain and brain stem. 

Neurosurgery CPT Codes for Neuroendoscopy 

Neuroendoscopy is a subspecialty of neurosurgery. Its purpose is to guide the surgeon during surgery and help him locate deep intracranial targets. The surgeon uses a thin tube-like device, an endoscope, with a light and camera on the opposite end to examine components inside the skull or brain. 

Neuroendoscopy is minimally invasive compared to craniectomy. Instead of removing a portion of the skull, the surgeon makes a small hole to guide the neuroendoscope inside the skull and perform guided surgery. It leads to less tissue injury, lower blood loss, minimal brain dissection, and shorter surgical time. Let’s understand the frequently used neurosurgery CPT codes for neuroendoscopy. 

CPT Code 62160 – Neuroendoscopy, Intracranial, for Placement or Replacement of Ventricular Catheter

CPT code 62160 reports an add-on neuroendoscopic procedure. The surgeon inserts an endoscope inside the skull to place or replace a ventricular catheter of a shunt system or for external drainage. It is a preliminary procedure for CSF shunt creation and involves draining the cerebrospinal fluid from the enlarged ventricles to reduce pressure. Or, the provider may use the endoscope to replace a catheter and remove the CSF shunt blockage. 

CPT Code 62161 – Neuroendoscopy, Intracranial with Dissection of Adhesions

Neurosurgery CPT code 62161 explains to the insurance payer that an intracranial neuroendoscopy was performed to access the brain and remove a cyst or adhesions on the septum pellucidum or in one of the ventricles. The process involves placing, replacing, or removing a ventricular catheter for external drainage or a shunt system. 

CPT Code 62165 – Neuroendoscopy, Intracranial with Excision of Pituitary Tumor

Another popular neuroendoscopy CPT code for neurosurgery is 62165. It indicates that the surgeon inserted a small endoscope through the nasal cavity or the sphenoidal sinuses to access the pituitary gland and remove an abnormal growth on it. 

Neurosurgery CPT Codes for Laminectomy and Discectomy

Laminectomy and discectomy are the most commonly performed surgical procedures on the spinal cord. While the former involves lamina or “bony arch” removal to relieve pressure on the spinal cord and nerves, the latter addresses herniated discs between the two vertebrae that press against the spinal cord and nerves, causing excruciating pain.  

Neurosurgeons must treat spinal injuries with laminectomy and discectomy to ensure a seamless neural pathway. Hence, the following neurosurgery CPT codes report these two vital surgical procedures on the spine. 

CPT Code 63030 – Laminectomy with Discectomy 

You should use neurosurgery CPT code 63030 when the neurosurgeon performs both laminectomy and discectomy in the same session. First, he removes a part of the lamina (laminotomy) of one lumbar interspace and decompresses the nerve roots. Second, he performs a partial facetectomy or foraminotomy to create an opening around the compressed nerves in the spinal columns. Lastly, he excises the herniated intervertebral disc (discectomy) to relieve pain. The procedure includes endoscopy for better guidance. 

CPT Code 63047 – Laminectomy, Facetectomy, and Foraminotomy (Unilateral or Bilateral)

This neurosurgery CPT code reports a unilateral or bilateral laminectomy with facetectomy and foraminotomy. First, the neurosurgeon removes a thin bony plate at the back of the vertebra (laminectomy). Second, he excises the smooth surface of an area in the vertebra (facetectomy). Lastly, he makes an incision or vertebral opening to decompress the nerve bundles (foraminotomy). All these procedures are performed on a single lumbar vertebral segment to treat spinal stenosis and spinal cord or nerve root compression. 

Scalp Wound Revision Neurosurgery CPT Codes

Traumatic brain injuries can result in scalp wounds and lacerations. These can be simple or superficial (at the surface of the scalp) or complex (running deep into the pericranium). However, a neurosurgeon’s job is to repair these wounds, regardless of their depth and size. 

Below, we have stated and explained the two most frequently reported scalp wound revision neurosurgery CPT codes to help you master coding. 

CPT Code 12002 – Simple Wound Repair on Scalp, Up to 7.5 cm 

Neurosurgery CPT code 12002 should be used when the provider repairs the scalp’s wounded surface. It is known as a superficial wound because the damage affects only the epidermis or the uppermost layer of the skin. The deeper layers of the scalp are intact. Although the wound is not deep in this case, it is big – 2.6 to 7.5 cm, to be exact. Note that this CPT code for neurosurgery can also be used to repair a superficial wound of the same size on the neck, external genitalia, trunk, hands, feet, or axillae.

CPT Code 13120 – Complex Wound Repair on Scalp, Up to 2.5 cm 

13120 is also a commonly reported scalp wound revision neurosurgery CPT code. It indicates that the neurosurgeon repaired a complex wound that goes deep into the many layers of the scalp. The wound should be between 1.1 and 2.5 cm in size. Also, note that you can report this code for complex wounds (same size) on the arms or legs. 

Summary of Neurosurgery CPT Codes List

In the sections above, we have only covered the most commonly used CPT codes for neurosurgery. However, the neurosurgeons’ expertise extends to stereotactic radiosurgery, endovascular therapy, aspiration procedures, brain aneurysm surgeries, and more. 

In the following table, we have listed the complete neurosurgery CPT code set to help you find the appropriate code based on the procedural classification.  

CPT Code Range	Classification
61000-61070	Injection, Drainage, or Aspiration Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
61105-61253	Twist Drill, Burr Hole(s), or Trephine Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
61304-61576	Craniectomy or Craniotomy Procedures
61580-61619	Skull Base Surgical Procedures
61623-61651	Endovascular Therapy Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
61680-61711	Surgery for Aneurysm, Arteriovenous Malformation, or Vascular Disease Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
61715-61791	Stereotaxis Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
61796-61800	Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Cranial) Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
61850-61892	Neurostimulators (Intracranial) Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
62000-62148	Repair Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
62160-62165	Neuroendoscopy Procedures on the Skull, Meninges, and Brain
62180-62258	Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Shunt Procedures

Source: AAPC

Final Word 

As a neurosurgeon, you already swim in deep waters year-round. From managing complex consultations to high-stakes surgeries and follow-up procedures, your days are occupied with coping with the stressful nature of your job. 

Don’t let neurosurgery billing be another hurdle in your journey toward financial success. Consider outsourcing neurosurgery billing services to professionals like MediBillMD. With a team of AAPC-certified coders, they can achieve neurosurgery CPT coding accuracy within hours for your stacked-up claims. Remember, better earnings start with better billing!