CPT 17111: Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions, 15 or More - OpenPayer

Summary & Overview

CPT 17111: Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions, 15 or More

CPT code 17111 reports the destruction of 15 or more benign skin lesions using techniques such as chemosurgery, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, or other destructive methods. It is a commonly used dermatologic procedural code that standardizes billing for high-volume lesion destruction in outpatient and ambulatory settings. Nationally, accurate use of this code affects provider reimbursement, billing compliance, and aggregated utilization measures for dermatologic procedural care.

Key payers considered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find an overview of clinical context for CPT code 17111, typical sites of service, common billing considerations, and benchmarking perspectives across major payers. The publication outlines how the code is structured, factors that influence coding choices (such as lesion count and lesion type exclusions), and where this service fits within dermatology procedural lines.

This summary equips readers with the clinical and billing context needed to interpret benchmarks, review policy or coverage updates, and understand where CPT code 17111 applies in practice. Data not available in the input are noted where applicable in detailed sections.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicareCPT 17111dermatologylesion destructioncryosurgeryelectrosurgeryoutpatient procedureprocedure codingdermatologic surgery

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 17111 describes the destruction of benign skin lesions using chemosurgery, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, or other destructive techniques, reporting the service when 15 lesions or more are destroyed. This procedure applies to benign cutaneous lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions.

Service type: Minor dermatologic surgical procedures for lesion destruction
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic or office-based dermatology practice; may also be performed in ambulatory surgical centers when clinically indicated

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult presenting to an outpatient dermatology clinic with multiple benign cutaneous lesions such as seborrheic keratoses, benign nevi, or viral warts. The dermatologist or proceduralist documents a clinical evaluation, confirms benign appearance or prior biopsy, counsels the patient regarding options, and obtains consent for lesion destruction. On the day of service the provider prepares the treatment area in a procedure room or minor procedure suite, uses local anesthesia as clinically indicated, and performs destruction by cryosurgery, electrosurgery, chemical cauterization, or curettage with electrosurgery for 15 or more discrete benign lesions (excluding skin tags and cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions). The workflow includes lesion counting and documentation, procedure note describing technique(s), anesthesia, complications or adverse effects, and post-procedure care instructions. Typical site of service is an outpatient dermatology clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or physician office procedure room. Typical patient scenario: a 62-year-old patient with numerous seborrheic keratoses across the trunk and extremities elects removal of 20 symptomatic lesions using cryosurgery in the dermatology clinic under local anesthesia; the provider documents lesion count, method, and immediate tolerance of the procedure.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day of procedure	Use when a distinct evaluation and management visit is performed and documented in addition to the procedure on the same day.

Related Codes

17000

CPT 17000: Destruction of a Single Benign or Premalignant Skin Lesion

17004

CPT 17004: Destruction of 15 or More Benign or Premalignant Skin Lesions

cpt-17108-cutaneous-vascular-destruction-greater-than-50cm2

CPT 17108: Cutaneous Vascular Destruction >50 cm2

cpt-17250-chemical-cauterization-granulation-tissue

CPT 17250: Chemical Cauterization of Granulation Tissue

cpt-17106-laser-destruction-cutaneous-vascular-lesion-less-than-10cm2

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

cpt-17107-cutaneous-vascular-lesion-destruction-10-50-cm2

CPT 17107: Cutaneous Vascular Lesion Destruction, 10–50 cm2

17110

CPT 17110: Destruction of Benign Skin Lesions, Up to 14 Lesions

17003

CPT 17003: Destruction of Premalignant Skin Lesions, Second Through 14th

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207N00000X	Dermatology	Dermatologists commonly perform lesion destruction with cryotherapy, electrosurgery, or chemical methods.
208000000X	Family Medicine	Family physicians may perform lesion destruction in office settings for benign lesions.
207P00000X	Dermatopathology	Dermatopathologists occasionally perform procedures but primarily provide diagnostic support; included for multidisciplinary care.
163W00000X	General Practice	General practitioners in outpatient clinics may perform minor lesion destructions.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`L82.0`	Seborrheic keratosis	Common benign epidermal lesion frequently treated with destructive methods when symptomatic or for cosmetic reasons.
`B07.9`	Viral wart, unspecified	Viral warts are benign lesions often treated with cryosurgery or chemical destruction when multiple or symptomatic.
`D23.9`	Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin, unspecified	When lesions are clinically benign or uncertain but managed with destruction after evaluation or biopsy.
`L91.8`	Other hypertrophic disorders of skin	Includes benign proliferative lesions that may be treated with destructive techniques when symptomatic.
`L85.8`	Other specified keratoderma	Selected hyperkeratotic benign lesions sometimes treated with destructive methods for symptom relief or cosmesis.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`17000`	Destruction (e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), first lesion	Performed when only a small number of lesions are treated; not used if 15 or more lesions are destroyed and `17111` applies.
`17003`	Destruction, each additional 10 lesions (use with primary code as appropriate)	Used to report additional groups of lesions when payer policy requires incremental reporting for multiple lesions; often used with primary lesion destruction codes when coding ranges apply.
`11100`	Biopsy of skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane (e.g., shave, punch, excision), single lesion	Performed prior to destruction when diagnosis is uncertain and tissue diagnosis is required.
`11721`	Debridement of nail(s) for fungal disease (partial or complete)	Performed when concomitant nail procedures are needed; distinct from cutaneous lesion destruction.
`99070`	Supplies and materials (non-covered)	Used to report supplies not included in the procedure payment when allowed by payer policies.