Summary & Overview
CPT 17250: Chemical Cauterization of Granulation Tissue
CPT code 17250 denotes chemical cauterization of granulation tissue, a minor dermatologic or wound-care procedure used to control excessive granulation and promote healing. Nationally relevant for outpatient surgical and dermatology practice settings, this code captures a common, procedure-level intervention performed in ambulatory clinics and outpatient procedure rooms.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context, common sites of service, and typical scenarios where the code is billed. The publication outlines benchmark considerations, payer coverage patterns, and coding nuances that affect claim adjudication for this service. It also summarizes policy updates and documentation elements that commonly influence reimbursement and utilization reporting.
This resource is intended to help billing managers, practice administrators, and health policy analysts understand how CPT code 17250 is used, what clinical situations it represents, and what factors commonly affect payer decisions and claim processes at a national level.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 17250 describes chemical cauterization of granulation tissue using agents such as silver nitrate or potassium hydroxide to promote healing of injured tissue. This procedure is a minor surgical or dermatologic intervention that involves topical chemical application to control granulation tissue and facilitate wound resolution.
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Service type: Minor surgical/dermatologic procedure
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory clinic, dermatology office, outpatient procedure room, or other outpatient settings where minor wound care and topical surgical treatments are performed.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 42-year-old woman presents to a dermatology clinic with a non-healing granulating wound at the margin of a previously excised skin lesion on the left cheek. The wound has persistent friable granulation tissue that bleeds easily and impairs epithelialization. After wound cleansing and bedside assessment, the provider elects to apply chemical cautery with silver nitrate to devitalize the granulation tissue and promote healing. The procedure is performed in an outpatient dermatology procedure room. The workflow includes informed consent, topical or local anesthesia if needed, targeted application of silver nitrate stick to the granulation tissue until hemostasis and tissue devitalization are achieved, wound dressing, and post‑procedure wound care instructions. Follow-up is scheduled to reassess wound closure and to repeat chemical cautery if residual granulation tissue persists.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by same physician on same day | Use when an E/M visit is performed and documented separately from the chemical cautery on the same day. |
| 52 | Reduced services | Use when the chemical cautery is partially performed or limited in scope compared with full service.
| 53 | Discontinued procedure | Use when the procedure is started but halted due to unforeseen circumstances.
| 59 | Distinct procedural service | Use when another procedure on the same day is distinct and not bundled with the cautery.
| 51 | Multiple procedures | Use when chemical cautery is one of multiple procedures performed during the same encounter.
| 76 | Repeat procedure by same physician | Use when the same provider repeats the chemical cautery during the same postoperative period.
| 77 | Repeat procedure by another physician | Use when a different provider repeats the procedure during the postoperative period.
| 79 | Unrelated procedure or service by same physician during postoperative period | Use when the cautery is unrelated to the original surgery that is in a postoperative global period.
| 22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the procedure requires substantially greater work than typical and is well documented.
| 24 | Unrelated evaluation and management service during postoperative period | Use when an E/M visit unrelated to the original procedure occurs during the global period.
| Taxonomy Code | Specialty | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 207W00000X | Dermatology | Common specialty performing chemical cautery of granulation tissue. |
| 208000000X | Family Medicine | Primary care clinicians may perform bedside chemical cautery in office wounds.
| 208D00000X | General Surgery | Surgeons may manage postoperative granulation tissue and perform cautery.
| 207L00000X | Plastic Surgery | Plastic surgeons perform cautery in wound management and reconstructive settings.
| 282N00000X | Podiatry | Podiatrists may perform chemical cautery for granulation tissue on the foot.
Related Diagnoses
| ICD-10 Code | Description | Clinical Relevance |
|---|---|---|
L98.4 | Granulation tissue of skin | Direct indication for chemical cautery to devitalize excessive granulation tissue and promote epithelialization. |
| L98.9 | Disorder of skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified | Used when a specific skin disorder related to the granulation tissue is not otherwise classified.
| T81.31XA | Disruption of wound, initial encounter | Relevant when granulation tissue forms in association with wound dehiscence that may require local cautery.
| S01.81XA | Open wound of other part of head, initial encounter | Example traumatic wound that may develop problematic granulation tissue treated with chemical cautery.
| L89.30 | Pressure ulcer of sacral region, unspecified stage | Pressure ulcers can develop excess granulation tissue (proud flesh) that is treated with cautery techniques.
| K91.89 | Other postprocedural complications and disorders of digestive system | When postoperative granulation tissue occurs after procedures in peristomal or mucocutaneous sites, chemical cautery can be used.
| Z48.00 | Encounter for change or removal of surgical wound dressing | Represents follow-up care contexts where cautery may be applied for persistent granulation tissue.
Related CPT Codes
| CPT Code | Description | Relationship to This Procedure |
|---|---|---|
11042 | Debridement, subcutaneous tissue (first 20 sq cm or less) | Surgical debridement may be performed prior to or instead of chemical cautery when necrotic tissue or extensive granulation requires excision. |
| 11200 | Removal of skin tags, multiple fibro-epithelial tags, any area; up to and including 15 lesions | Office-level skin lesion removals may be part of the same visit when granulation tissue follows excision.
| 12001 | Simple repair of superficial wound (2.5 cm or less) | Initial wound closure codes are commonly performed before granulation tissue develops; related in postoperative care.
| 99024 | Postoperative follow-up visit, global period, related to routine postoperative care | Used for routine follow-up visits where chemical cautery is part of postoperative wound management.
| 99070 | Supplies and materials (except spectacles), used for patient care | Billing for non‑covered supplies used during the cautery application when applicable.