CPT code 38573: Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy, bilateral pelvic with para-aortic sampling2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Medicare pays $1,080.85 for 38573 nationally in a facility.

Medicare allowed amount for participating (non-QP) physicians, before deductible, coinsurance and claim adjustments. Not a patient’s bill or a hospital charge.

What 38573 covers

A surgeon, often a gynecologic oncologist, performs this laparoscopic procedure to remove grossly visible lymph nodes from both sides of the pelvis, including external iliac, hypogastric, and obturator groups, while sampling para-aortic nodes. It is commonly part of operative staging for pelvic malignancies, such as endometrial or ovarian cancer, in a hospital operating room. The pelvic dissection and para-aortic sampling are part of the coded service rather than separate descriptions of the same work.

Report the code when the documented laparoscopic procedure includes the bilateral pelvic dissection and para-aortic sampling; document the approach, nodal regions addressed, and extent of removal. CMS assigns a 10-day global period, including related postoperative visits during that period. The service is priced as bilateral, so modifier 50 does not increase payment. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. An assistant at surgery may be paid, and co-surgeons are permitted; team surgery is not permitted.

This summary was written with AI assistance from CMS physician fee schedule data and checked against the CMS billing rules shown here. Rates on this page come directly from CMS files.

Where 38573 pays more and less

The same RVUs, adjusted for each area’s costs. Open a locality for its calculation, history and nearby areas.

109 of 109 payment localities

38573 rates by state

Office rate range in each state. Select a state to see its payment localities.

How the 38573 rate is calculated

Each of 38573’s three RVUs is multiplied by a geographic index (GPCI) for the payment locality, added up, and multiplied by the conversion factor. Drag the indexes or enter a ZIP to see what moves the rate.

Payment rules and modifiers for 38573

38573 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

What modifiers do to the payment

When to use modifier 51

38573 compared with similar codes

How to choose

38571Pelvic lymphadenectomyLaparoscopic, bilateral

Use 38571 for bilateral total pelvic lymphadenectomy without para-aortic sampling. Code 38573 includes para-aortic sampling and the specified grossly visible pelvic-node removal.

38572Laparoscopic lymphadenectomyPelvic dissection plus para-aortic sampling

Both codes describe bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with peri-aortic sampling. For 38573, the operative documentation must support the more specifically described removal of grossly visible pelvic nodes.

38570Laparoscopic node biopsyRetroperitoneal sampling

Code 38570 is for laparoscopic retroperitoneal node sampling. It is not the choice for the bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy with para-aortic sampling represented by 38573.

Codes related to 38573

Related codes aren’t interchangeable: bill the code that matches the service performed.

Where these rates come from

FeeBase calculates base physician payments from CMS work, practice-expense and malpractice RVUs, adjusted by each locality’s geographic indexes and the conversion factor. Services without a published rate are labeled, never given a made-up amount. Amounts are Medicare allowed amounts before claim adjustments: not a patient’s bill or a commercial rate.

CMS RVU26D · effective Oct 1, 2026 through the day before Jan 1, 2027

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates