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CPT code 49322: Laparoscopic aspiration, cyst or cavity2026 Medicare rate & RVUs

Report this service when a surgeon uses laparoscopy to aspirate a cavity or cyst, such as an ovarian cyst, during an operative procedure.

CMS RVU26DEffective Oct 1, 2026109 payment localities1.3K Medicare services in 2024

Medicare pays $355.39 for 49322 nationally in a facility.

Medicare rate · 49322

Laparoscopic aspiration, cyst or cavity

Office or facility?

Work RVUs
5.86
Total RVUs
10.64
Global days
010

National rate · 2026

$355.39

Facility setting, before claim adjustments.

See every locality for 49322 →Billed by an NP, PA or therapist? →

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

Your location

Medicare pays by the payment locality where the service is performed.

On this page 10 sections
  1. Medicare rate
  2. What 49322 covers
  3. By payment locality
  4. Rate map
  5. How it’s calculated
  6. Payment rules
  7. Similar codes
  8. Related codes
  9. Billing questions
  10. Sources

What 49322 covers

A surgeon uses a laparoscope and instruments inserted through small abdominal incisions to aspirate fluid from a cavity or cyst. Gynecologic surgeons commonly perform the procedure for an ovarian cyst; other surgeons may use it for another suitable abdominal or pelvic cystic space. The code covers aspiration of one or multiple cysts or cavities during the procedure, rather than a separate service for each one.

Choose this code when the operative report documents laparoscopic aspiration, the treated site, and the procedure performed. It differs from laparoscopic biopsy, which obtains tissue rather than aspirating a cyst or cavity. Medicare assigns a 10-day global period, so related postoperative visits during that period are included. When related endoscopies are performed together, endoscopy family pricing applies. Modifier 50 is inappropriate for this code. CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and co-surgeons; 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 49322 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

49322 office and facility rates by payment locality
Payment localityOfficeFacility
AlabamaUnavailable$320.77
AlaskaUnavailable$439.25
ArizonaUnavailable$345.08
ArkansasUnavailable$316.56
Atlanta, GAUnavailable$367.30
Austin, TXUnavailable$356.88
Bakersfield, CAUnavailable$351.33
Baltimore area, MDUnavailable$377.95
Beaumont, TXUnavailable$341.92
Brazoria, TXUnavailable$345.51

49322 rates by state

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

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Local rates. Clear comparisons.

Hover or focus a tile to see its rate range. Select it to open the state’s fee schedule.

View every state and territory as a table
49322 office rate range by state
State / territoryOffice rate rangeLocalities
AKNo published base rate1
ALNo published base rate1
ARNo published base rate1
AZNo published base rate1
CANo published base rate29
CONo published base rate1
CTNo published base rate1
DCNo published base rate1
DENo published base rate1
FLNo published base rate3
GANo published base rate2
GUNo published base rate1
HINo published base rate1
IANo published base rate1
IDNo published base rate1
ILNo published base rate4
INNo published base rate1
KSNo published base rate1
KYNo published base rate1
LANo published base rate2
MANo published base rate2
MDNo published base rate3
MENo published base rate2
MINo published base rate2
MNNo published base rate1
MONo published base rate3
MSNo published base rate1
MTNo published base rate1
NCNo published base rate1
NDNo published base rate1
NENo published base rate1
NHNo published base rate1
NJNo published base rate2
NMNo published base rate1
NVNo published base rate1
NYNo published base rate5
OHNo published base rate1
OKNo published base rate1
ORNo published base rate2
PANo published base rate2
PRNo published base rate1
RINo published base rate1
SCNo published base rate1
SDNo published base rate1
TNNo published base rate1
TXNo published base rate8
UTNo published base rate1
VANo published base rate2
VINo published base rate1
VTNo published base rate1
WANo published base rate2
WINo published base rate1
WVNo published base rate1
WYNo published base rate1

How the 49322 rate is calculated

Each of 49322’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.

How the rate is built · 49322

RVUs × geographic indexes × conversion factor

Office or facility?

Work5.86

5.86 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Practice expense3.36

3.36 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Malpractice1.42

1.42 RVUs× 1.000 GPCI

Adjusted RVUs

10.6400

Conversion factor

$33.4009

Medicare rate

$355.39

Every GPCI starts at 1.000, the national rate. Enter a ZIP or drag a slider.

Payment rules and modifiers for 49322

49322 has a 10-day global period: related visits in that window are included in the surgery payment.

CMS payment indicators · 49322

Laparoscopic aspiration, cyst or cavity

RuleCMS valueWhat it means
Global period010Minor procedure: the day of the procedure plus 10 days after are included.
Multiple procedures3Endoscopy family rules apply.
Bilateral (modifier 50)0The 150% bilateral adjustment doesn’t apply.
Assistant at surgery (80/81/82/AS)2Paid.
Co-surgeons (62)2Permitted.
Team surgery (66)0Not permitted.
Professional/technical0Physician service: no professional/technical split.
Split (54/55/56)0.10/0.80/0.10Share of the payment for pre-op, the procedure itself, and post-op care.

Global surgery period · 49322

Laparoscopic aspiration, cyst or cavity

10-day global period ends

Oct 11, 2026

Covers Oct 1, 2026 through Oct 11, 2026 (11 days).

Visit on Oct 31, 2026

After the global period ends: visits and procedures are billed normally.

SurgeryVisit
Sep 28, 2026Oct 14, 2026

What modifiers do to the payment

Modifier 51 · payment effect

With and without the modifier

49322 without 51 · national facility

$355.39

Laparoscopic aspiration, cyst or cavity

49322-51 · Second procedure: 50%

$177.70

When this isn’t the highest-valued procedure in the session, Medicare pays 50% of its fee schedule amount (the highest is paid at 100%).

When to use modifier 51

49322 compared with similar codes

Compare codes · National

4 codes, side by side

Office or facility?

  • 49322

    Laparoscopic aspiration, cyst or cavity5.86 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 49320

    Diagnostic laparoscopy, abdomen and peritoneum5.01 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 49321

    Laparoscopic biopsy, tissue sampling5.3 wRVU

    Not priced

  • 49323

    Lymphocele drainage, laparoscopic approach9.97 wRVU

    Not priced

How to choose

49320Diagnostic laparoscopyAbdomen and peritoneum
49320 describes diagnostic laparoscopy. Choose 49322 when the surgeon performs aspiration of a cyst or cavity, not merely inspection.
49321Laparoscopic biopsyTissue sampling
49321 is for obtaining tissue by laparoscopic biopsy; 49322 is for aspirating fluid from a cyst or cavity.
49323Lymphocele drainageLaparoscopic approach
49323 is specific to laparoscopic drainage of a lymphocele. Use 49322 for aspiration of another cavity or cyst, such as an ovarian cyst.

Codes related to 49322

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

Codes related to 49322
CodeHow it relatesNational office range
Same family
49320Diagnostic laparoscopy, abdomen and peritoneumLaparoscopic diagnostic examination without the aspiration service.No office rate
49321Laparoscopic biopsy, tissue samplingLaparoscopic tissue biopsy, rather than aspiration of a cyst or cavity.No office rate
Used instead
49323Lymphocele drainage, laparoscopic approachUsed for laparoscopic drainage of a lymphocele, a specifically identified fluid collection.No office rate

49322 billing questions

How is this different from 49321?

Use 49322 when the surgeon aspirates fluid from a cavity or cyst. Code 49321 is for laparoscopic biopsy, where tissue is obtained.

Should each aspirated cyst be reported as a separate unit?

No. The service includes aspiration of a single or multiple cysts or cavities; do not report a separate unit for each one.

Can modifier 50 be used for cysts on both sides?

No. CMS identifies bilateral adjustment as inappropriate for this code, so modifier 50 should not be used.

What postoperative care is included?

Related postoperative visits during the 10-day global period are included in the procedure payment.

What happens when another related endoscopy is performed in the same session?

Endoscopy family pricing applies when related endoscopies are performed together. Document each procedure and its distinct clinical purpose in the operative report.

May an assistant or co-surgeon be reported?

CMS permits payment for an assistant at surgery and for co-surgeons. Team surgery is not permitted for this code.

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

Show the CMS file lines behind this rate
RVUs for 49322PPRRVU2026_Oct_nonQPP.csv, line 5,785 (RVU26D)

Open CMS sourceHow we calculate rates

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