CPT
10060 — Incision and drainage of abscess, simple
If just one abscess and simple drainage, 10060 is the correct code.
Surgery & procedures
19120 — Excision of cyst, fibroadenoma, or benign/malignant breast tumor, open
This code covers the open surgical removal of a breast lesion — such as a cyst, fibroadenoma, or suspicious mass — that has not been confirmed as invasive cancer requiring mastectomy.
- Typical setting: Hospital OR, ASC
- National avg charge (illustrative): $600-$1,200 Medicare allowed for surgeon professional fee (total facility charges typically higher)
- Most-disputed reason: Billing 19120 for needle-guided excisions: if a wire localization is performed before the excision, code 19125 or 19126 may be more appropriate depending on the technique
What it means
What 19120 actually means
This code covers the open surgical removal of a breast lesion — such as a cyst, fibroadenoma, or suspicious mass — that has not been confirmed as invasive cancer requiring mastectomy. A surgeon makes an incision in the breast, removes the lesion with a margin of surrounding tissue, and closes the wound. It carries a 90-day global period.
Common errors with this code
What goes wrong on real bills.
Most bills that look correct still contain at least one of these issues. Up to 49% of medical bills contain errors (CFPB).
- Billing 19120 for needle-guided excisions: if a wire localization is performed before the excision, code 19125 or 19126 may be more appropriate depending on the technique
- Unbundling pathology: patients sometimes see a separate pathology lab bill alongside the surgical fee — both are correct separate services but can confuse patients
- Global period violations: billing follow-up visits separately within 90 days without modifier -24 for unrelated services
If you see 19120 on your bill
Three steps before paying.
1. Get the itemized bill. If your statement only shows a summary, request the CPT-level itemized bill before paying. Generate the request language →
2. Cross-check against the EOB. Compare what your insurer's Explanation of Benefits says you owe versus what the hospital is asking. They disagree more often than people think. Read the bill-vs-EOB guide →
3. Run a free Bill Scan. Upload the bill (and EOB if you have it) and BillBusted will flag the most likely issues with this specific code in your specific state. Run free scan →
Related codes
Other codes in this category.
People who land on 19120 often also see these adjacent codes on the same bill.
CPT
11042 — Debridement, subcutaneous tissue; first 20 sq cm or less
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
11102 — Skin biopsy, tangential (single lesion)
First biopsy at full price; additional biopsies use add-on codes (11103).
CPT
11104 — Punch biopsy of skin; single lesion
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
11106 — Incisional biopsy of skin; single lesion
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
CPT
11400 — Excision benign lesion, except skin tag, trunk/arms/legs; 0.5 cm or less
Verify the code matches the actual service and dose.
Related BillBusted guides
Plain-English reads if you see 19120 on a bill.
19120 FAQ
Plain-English answers.
What does 19120 usually cost?
$600-$1,200 Medicare allowed for surgeon professional fee (total facility charges typically higher). Costs vary by region, payer contract, and whether the service was performed in a hospital outpatient department (which adds a facility fee) versus a free-standing clinic.
What's the most common billing error on 19120?
Billing 19120 for needle-guided excisions: if a wire localization is performed before the excision, code 19125 or 19126 may be more appropriate depending on the technique
What should I do if I see 19120 on my bill?
Request the itemized bill and the matching EOB from your insurer. Compare the units/quantity billed against what you actually received. Run a free BillBusted scan to flag the most likely errors specific to 19120 before paying.
Don't pay 19120 blindly.
The free scan tells you in under 60 seconds whether this charge looks reasonable for your situation.