2025 CPT code 11420
Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Integumentary System Feed
Excision of a benign lesion, excluding skin tags, on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia, with an excised diameter of 0.5 cm or less.
Modifiers may be applicable. Modifier 59 may be used to indicate a distinct procedural service when multiple lesions are excised.
Medical necessity must be established for this procedure.The documentation must indicate the symptoms of the lesion, such as pain, bleeding, or interference with function. Cosmetic reasons alone may not be sufficient for medical necessity.
The physician prepares the patient, numbs the area, and uses a scalpel to remove the entire lesion. The removed tissue may be sent for testing. The wound is then closed with stitches.
In simple words: Removal of a small, non-cancerous skin growth (less than 0.5 cm) from the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitals. This includes numbing the area and stitching it up.
Excision, benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; excised diameter 0.5 cm or less. This includes local anesthesia and simple closure. The code selection is based on the greatest clinical diameter of the lesion plus the required margin for complete excision, measured before the procedure.
Example 1: A patient has a small cyst on their scalp measuring 0.4 cm. The physician excises the cyst with appropriate margins, resulting in a total excised diameter of 0.5 cm., A patient has a benign mole on their hand measuring 0.3 cm. It is excised with the necessary margins, totaling 0.5 cm., A patient has a small, benign lesion on their foot. The physician removes the lesion, which, including the margin, is 0.5 cm in diameter.The lesion is sent for pathology and comes back as benign.
Documentation should include the location and size of the lesion, the margins taken, the method of excision and closure, and any complications. Pathology report of excised tissue should also be included.
** This code does not apply to skin tags or premalignant or malignant lesions.For lesions larger than 0.5 cm, use the appropriate code (11421-11426). For other locations such as the trunk, arms, or legs, use codes 11400-11406.
- Revenue Code: P6A - MINOR PROCEDURES - SKIN
- Specialties:Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Family Medicine, General Surgery
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center