Summary & Overview

CPT 17106: Laser Destruction of Cutaneous Vascular Lesion <10 cm²

CPT code 17106 covers laser or other nonincisional destruction of a cutaneous vascular proliferative lesion that is less than 10 cm² in area. This code is used to report a bloodless, nonexcisional procedure commonly performed in outpatient dermatology or ambulatory surgical settings. Nationally, it matters because vascular lesion treatments are common in cosmetic and medical dermatology, and clear coding supports appropriate tracking, reimbursement, and clinical communication.

Key payers in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical service represented by the code, typical sites of service, and the procedural context for which the code is appropriate. The publication also provides benchmarks and policy-relevant details related to coverage and billing practices for nonexcisional laser destruction of vascular lesions, as well as coding nuances and related service-level considerations.

This summary is intended for national audiences including coding professionals, dermatology clinicians, and payer policy analysts seeking a clear, practical reference to CPT code 17106 and its clinical application.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 17106 describes destruction of a cutaneous vascular proliferative lesion measuring less than 10 cm². The procedure is typically performed using laser technologies such as argon, pulsed-dye, or YAG devices and is characterized as a bloodless surgical technique because no skin incision is made.

Service Type: Laser destruction of cutaneous vascular lesion

Typical Site of Service: Outpatient dermatology clinic or ambulatory surgical center, where laser therapies for vascular skin lesions are commonly performed.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 34-year-old patient presents to an outpatient dermatology clinic with a small, symptomatic port-wine stain (capillary malformation) on the left cheek measuring approximately 6 cm2. The dermatologist evaluates the lesion, documents lesion size and location, obtains informed consent for cutaneous vascular lesion destruction using a pulsed dye laser, and confirms no contraindications (e.g., active infection, recent isotretinoin). The patient is positioned in a procedure room or ambulatory surgery center depending on practice setting. Local anesthesia (topical or injected) is applied as needed. Laser parameters are selected based on lesion characteristics and skin type. The provider performs laser destruction of the vascular proliferative lesion, observes immediate blanching and hemostasis, and provides post-procedure care instructions and follow-up. Billing is submitted for the laser destruction single lesion less than 10 cm2 using 17106 with appropriate modifier(s) to indicate provider circumstances (for example 26 for professional component if equipment and facility fees are billed separately) and the relevant ICD-10 diagnosis code for the capillary malformation.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when billing only the physician’s professional component (interpretation or performance) separate from facility/equipment charges for laser services.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207N00000X`	Dermatology	Most common specialty performing cutaneous vascular lesion laser destruction.
`207P00000X`	Pediatric Dermatology	For pediatric capillary malformations and vascular lesions.
`261QM0800X`	Plastic Surgery	Performs laser resurfacing and vascular lesion treatments in surgical settings.
`207X00000X`	Dermatopathology	May be involved for biopsy correlation if lesion morphology is uncertain.
`2080P0001X`	Otolaryngology	Performs laser treatment when lesions involve head and neck anatomic complexity.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`Q82.5`	Port-wine stain [nevus flammeus]	A common vascular malformation treated with pulsed dye laser/destruction methods represented by `17106`.
`D18.0`	Hemangioma of skin and subcutaneous tissue	Vascular proliferative lesion that may be treated with laser destruction when superficial and limited in area.
`I78.0`	Nevus, nonneoplastic	Includes various vascular nevi that may require laser therapy.
`L98.1`	Other disorders of skin and subcutaneous tissue in diseases classified elsewhere	Used when vascular lesions are manifestations of systemic conditions requiring lesion-specific treatment.
`L91.8`	Other hypertrophic disorders of skin	May include vascular proliferations or related lesions treated with vascular lasers.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`17250`	Destruction of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; up to 14 lesions, each.	May be used when multiple benign nonvascular lesions are destroyed in the same session; different code family than `17106`.
`17000`	Destruction of premalignant lesions (e.g., actinic keratoses); first lesion.	Used when treating premalignant lesions rather than vascular proliferations; may be performed in same visit if clinically indicated.
`11100`	Biopsy of single lesion, tangential/shave.	Performed before or instead of destruction when diagnosis is uncertain.
`99070`	Supplies and materials (e.g., topical anesthesia, dressings)	Billed for additional nonroutine supplies used during laser destruction when payer allows.
`97602`	Removal of devitalized tissue from wound(s) by topical application, enzymatic, without anesthesia	Not typically directly related but may be used in post-procedure wound care scenarios; included as ancillary code.