2025 CPT code 11103
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Integumentary System Feed
Tangential biopsy of skin, each separate/additional lesion.
Modifiers may be applicable to indicate specific circumstances (e.g., reduced services, discontinued procedures). Refer to current modifier guidelines.
Medical necessity for skin biopsies is established by the presence of a suspicious skin lesion that requires histopathologic examination for diagnosis.
The physician prepares the skin, administers local anesthesia, and removes the skin sample using a shave, scoop, saucerization, or curette technique. The specimen is sent to pathology for analysis.
In simple words: This code represents the removal of a small piece of skin from an additional, separate skin lesion using a scraping or shaving technique during the same doctor's visit.The procedure is used to diagnose skin conditions.
Tangential biopsy of skin (e.g., shave, scoop, saucerize, curette); each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure). This code is used for each additional tangential biopsy performed on a separate lesion during the same encounter. It is reported in addition to the primary tangential biopsy code (11102) or the primary code for other biopsy types (11104, 11106) when multiple biopsy techniques are used on separate lesions.
Example 1: A patient presents with three separate suspicious moles. The physician performs a shave biopsy on each lesion. 11102 is reported for the first biopsy, and 11103 is reported twice for the additional two lesions., A patient has one mole biopsied by shave technique (11102) and a second lesion biopsied by punch technique (11104). An additional shave biopsy is performed on a third lesion. 11103 is reported for the third biopsy., During a skin exam, the physician performs an incisional biopsy (11106) on a concerning lesion and a tangential biopsy on two separate, raised lesions. 11103 is reported twice, along with 11106.
Documentation should include the number and location of biopsies, the technique used, the size and description of the lesions, and the diagnosis.
- RVU: Refer to current Physician Fee Schedule
- Modifier TC rule: Not applicable.
- Fee Schedule: Refer to historical Physician Fee Schedules.
- Specialties:Dermatology, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Plastic Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center