2025 CPT code 56515
Effective Date: N/A Surgery - Surgical Procedures on the Female Genital System Feed
Destruction of extensive lesion(s) of the vulva using methods such as laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, or chemosurgery.
Modifiers may be applicable to this code to indicate specific circumstances, such as increased procedural services (modifier 22), multiple procedures (modifier 51), or reduced services (modifier 52). Check current CPT guidelines for applicable modifiers.
Medical necessity for this procedure should be supported by documentation of patient symptoms, the nature and extent of the lesions, and failed prior treatments if any.
After preparing and anesthetizing the patient, the physician identifies the lesions on the vulva. They then apply an appropriate destructive method to each lesion, which could include laser ablation, electrocauterization, cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen, or chemical application.
In simple words: This procedure removes one or more large abnormal areas on the outer female genitals using a laser, electric current, freezing, or chemicals.This helps relieve discomfort and may stop some lesions from spreading.
This procedure involves the destruction of one or more extensive lesions on the external female genitalia (vulva) using various methods like laser ablation, electrosurgery, cryosurgery (using liquid nitrogen), or chemosurgery.The procedure aims to alleviate discomfort and, in some cases, prevent the spread of certain types of lesions.
Example 1: A patient presents with multiple extensive condylomata on the vulva causing discomfort and concern about potential spread. The physician performs laser ablation of the lesions using code 56515., A patient has extensive vulvar dysplasia which is treated with cryosurgery (liquid nitrogen) and the code 56515 is used to represent the procedure. , A patient has a large, extensive area of lichen sclerosus on the vulva that is unresponsive to topical medications. The physician destroys the lesion using electrosurgery, and the procedure is coded as 56515.
Documentation should include the number, size, and location of lesions, the method of destruction used, and any complications encountered. Photographs may be helpful for accurate record-keeping.
** Code 56515 is not to be used for destruction of Skene's gland cysts or abscesses (53270) or cautery destruction of urethral caruncles (53265).
- Specialties:Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Place of Service:Office, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Outpatient Hospital