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2025 CPT code 11423

Excision of benign lesion including margins, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia; excised diameter 2.1 to 3.0 cm.

The greatest clinical diameter of the lesion plus the required margin should be measured prior to the excision to determine the appropriate code. Report separately each benign lesion excised.If the lesion requires intermediate or complex closure, those codes should be reported separately.

Modifiers may be applicable. Refer to current CPT guidelines.

Medical necessity must be established for the excision of the benign lesion.The lesion's characteristics and patient impact warrant removal

The physician performs a full-thickness excision of the lesion, including margins, and performs a simple, non-layered closure.

IMPORTANT:For shave removal, see 11300 et seq., and for electrosurgical and other methods see 17000 et seq. For lesions requiring intermediate or complex closure, see 11400-11446 in addition to appropriate intermediate (12031-12057) or complex closure (13100-13153) codes. For reconstructive closure, see 15002-15261, 15570-15770. For excision performed in conjunction with adjacent tissue transfer, report only the adjacent tissue transfer code (14000-14302). For destruction of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions, see 17110, 17111; premalignant lesions, see 17000, 17003, 17004; cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions, see 17106, 17107, 17108; malignant lesions, see 17260-17286. For excision of cicatricial lesion(s), see 11400-11446. For incisional removal of burn scar, see 16035, 16036. For fractional ablative laser fenestration for functional improvement of traumatic or burn scars, see 0479T, 0480T.

In simple words: Removal of a non-cancerous skin growth, between 2.1 and 3.0 cm in size, located on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitals.This includes numbing the area and stitching the skin back together.

Excision (including simple closure) of a benign lesion (excluding skin tags, unless listed elsewhere) on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Lesion diameter 2.1 to 3.0 cm, including margins, is excised. This includes local anesthesia and simple (non-layered) closure.

Example 1: A patient presents with a 2.5 cm benign cyst on the scalp. The physician excises the cyst and closes the wound with simple sutures., A patient has a 2.2 cm nevus (mole) on the hand. The physician excises the nevus, including margins, and closes the defect with a simple repair., A 2.8 cm dermatofibroma is excised from a patient's foot. The physician achieves hemostasis and performs a simple closure.

Documentation should include the location and size of the lesion, the diagnosis (benign), the margins excised, the type of closure (simple), and any complications.

  • Global Days: Includes a global period. Refer to the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits for post-operative care included in the global period.
  • Payment Status: Active
  • Specialties:Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, General Surgery, Family Medicine
  • Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center
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