Billing code
E505A — Limited axillary node sampling, add-on to breast surgery
Axillary node sampling add-on
Add for limited axillary node sampling done with a partial or total mastectomy or oncoplastic breast conserving surgery.
Watch for: Not payable with Z427 sentinel node biopsy, and only with the listed breast surgery codes.
| Provider | Specialist | Assistant | Anaesthetist | Non-anaesthetist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $178.05 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
- Code
- E505A
- Description
- Limited axillary node sampling, add-on to breast surgery
- FHO+ basket
- Not in the FHO+ base rate basket (Schedule 2 or 2B).
- Effective date
- Apr 1, 2025
- Termination date
- No end date
Explanation
Updated October 26, 2026
Add-on for limited axillary node sampling with a partial or total mastectomy or oncoplastic lumpectomy. Not payable with sentinel node biopsy Z427.
What it covers
E505 is the add-on for limited axillary node sampling done with breast surgery, listed under Operations of the Breast (M25, M26).
It is added to R111 partial mastectomy, R108 simple mastectomy, R117 skin sparing mastectomy, R148 or R149 male mastectomy for breast disease, or R102, R158 or R159 oncoplastic breast conserving surgery (M25, M26).
Billing rules
- Only payable as an add-on to R111, R108, R117, R148, R149, R102, R158 or R159 (M25, M26).
- Not payable in addition to Z427 sentinel node biopsy (M25).
- Axillary node dissection up to the level of the axillary vein is E546, a separate add-on (M25, M26).
- E505 is on the E676 list, so E676A (+25%) can apply, once per patient per physician, for a morbidly obese patient (BMI over 40, recorded in the chart) when the SP6 criteria are met, including general anaesthesia (SP6, SP7).
Often billed with
- R108 simple mastectomy (M25).
- R111 partial mastectomy or wedge resection, and R102 level 1 oncoplastic lumpectomy (M25, M26).
Related codes: E546, Z427, R111, R108, R102, R117, R158, E525
Source: Schedule of Benefits (July 1, 2026), Integumentary System Surgical Procedures, Operations of the Breast, pages M25 to M26; Surgical Preamble SP6 to SP7
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