2025 CPT code 17111
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Integumentary System Surgery Feed
Destruction of 15 or more benign skin lesions (excluding skin tags and vascular lesions) using methods like laser, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, or chemosurgery.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the procedure. Consult the most current CPT® guidelines and modifier documentation.
Medical necessity is determined based on the clinical indication for removal of the lesions.Lesions causing pain, discomfort, functional impairment, or posing a risk of infection or malignancy may be considered medically necessary.Cosmetic reasons alone are generally not considered medically necessary by most payers.
The physician or qualified healthcare professional is responsible for assessing the patient's condition, administering local anesthesia (if necessary), selecting the appropriate destruction method, and performing the procedure to destroy the lesions. Proper documentation is essential.
In simple words: This code is used when a doctor removes 15 or more non-cancerous skin growths (not including skin tags or birthmarks) using methods like freezing, burning, or special chemicals.It's billed only once, no matter how many growths are removed.
This CPT code, 17111, reports the destruction of fifteen or more benign lesions of the integumentary system.Exclusions include skin tags and cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions.Acceptable methods of destruction include, but are not limited to, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, and surgical curettement.The code is reported once, regardless of the number of lesions destroyed, as long as the total is fifteen or more. Local anesthesia may be administered.
Example 1: A patient presents with 20 common warts on their hands.The physician performs cryosurgery to destroy all 20 warts.Code 17111 is reported., A patient has 15 seborrheic keratoses removed via electrosurgery. Code 17111 is reported., A patient presents with numerous actinic keratoses. The physician performs a photodynamic therapy session to destroy over 15 lesions.Code 17111 is reported.
A complete medical record must include:
** Always confirm the number of lesions treated to determine the appropriate code (17110 vs. 17111).Proper documentation is critical for accurate coding and reimbursement.
- Revenue Code: P5A (Ambulatory Procedures - Skin)
- RVU: This information is not available in the provided source and requires reference to a current RVU database.
- Global Days: This information is not available in the provided source and requires reference to a current global surgery guidelines.
- Payment Status: Active
- Modifier TC rule: The information is not available in the provided source and requires reference to a current CPT code modifier database.
- Fee Schedule: This information is not available in the provided source and requires reference to a historical fee schedule database.
- Specialties:Dermatology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center