2025 CPT code 11602

Excision of a malignant lesion, including margins, from the trunk, arms, or legs, with a lesion diameter of 1.1 to 2.0 cm.

Refer to current CPT coding guidelines for proper code selection and modifier usage. Modifier 58 should be appended if a re-excision is performed during the postoperative period. Modifier 59 should be appended if multiple lesions excised at the same operative session differ in size or location, and hence different codes apply to their excision.

Modifiers may be applicable. Modifier 58 is used for staged or related procedures during the postoperative period, and Modifier 59 is used to indicate a distinct procedural service.

Medical necessity for excision of malignant skin lesions is established by the presence of a confirmed malignant lesion requiring removal to prevent further spread or complications.

The physician prepares the surgical site, administers local anesthesia, determines the appropriate margins for excision, excises the lesion with the required margin, controls bleeding, and closes the wound using simple closure techniques. The physician may also send the excised tissue for pathological examination or perform a frozen section analysis during the procedure to ensure complete removal of malignant tissue.

IMPORTANT For lesions 0.5 cm or less, use 11600. For lesions 0.6 to 1.0 cm, use 11601. For lesions 2.1 to 3.0 cm, use 11603. For lesions 3.1 to 4.0 cm, use 11604. For lesions over 4.0 cm, use 11606. For destruction of malignant lesions, see 17260-17286. If excision requires intermediate or complex closure, report 11600-11646 with appropriate closure codes (12031-12057 or 13100-13153).

In simple words: Removal of skin cancer, like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, or squamous cell carcinoma, from your torso, arms, or legs. The area removed, including a safety margin of healthy skin, is 1.1 to 2.0 cm across.This includes numbing the area and closing the wound with stitches.

Excision of a malignant lesion, including margins, from the skin of the trunk, arms, or legs. The lesion diameter is between 1.1 and 2.0 cm.Includes local anesthesia and simple closure. The excised diameter includes the lesion diameter plus the narrowest margin required for complete excision.

Example 1: A patient presents with a 1.5 cm basal cell carcinoma on the right arm. The physician excises the lesion with a 0.5 cm margin, resulting in a 2.0 cm excised diameter. Code 11602 is reported., A patient has a 1.2 cm squamous cell carcinoma on the back. The physician performs an excision with a 0.3 cm margin. The total excised diameter is 1.5 cm.Code 11602 is reported., A patient has a 1.8 cm melanoma on the left leg. During the excision, a frozen section reveals positive margins.The physician excises additional tissue. The final excised diameter is 2.5 cm. Code 11603 would be reported since the final excised diameter is what determines the code selection.

Documentation should include lesion size and location, excised diameter (including margins), type of malignant lesion, method of closure, and any intraoperative findings (e.g., frozen section results). Photographs of the lesion before and after excision can also be beneficial.

** It is crucial to measure and document both the lesion size and the total excised diameter, including margins. If additional procedures are performed, such as complex closure or adjacent tissue transfer, they should be coded separately, adhering to NCCI guidelines.

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