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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDestruction Procedures on Benign or Premalignant Lesions of the Integumentary SystemCPT cpt-17250-chemical-cauterization-granulation-tissue
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    CPT 17250: Chemical Cauterization of Granulation Tissue

    Medicare pays $94 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 17250 describes chemical cauterization of granulation tissue using agents such as silver nitrate or potassium hydroxide; this procedure is a minor surgical/dermatologic tissue treatment typically performed in an office or ambulatory clinic setting to promote healing of injured or overgranulating tissue.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverage, Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid Products, Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per Days.

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    Table of contents

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    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.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11042Debridement, 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.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    51Modifier –51 (Multiple Procedures) is used when the same provider performs multiple procedures in the same session to identify secondary, non‑exempt procedures and indicate payment reduction logic…- Use modifier -51 when the same provider performs multiple distinct procedures during the same patient encounter: report the highest‑valued procedure first (no modifier) and append -51 to…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    77Modifier 77 indicates that a previously performed procedure or service was legitimately repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional. The AMA’s CPT definition…- Use modifier 77 when a basic procedure or service already performed is repeated by a different physician or other qualified health care professional (for example, a second provider independently…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207W00000XOphthalmology PhysicianAn ophthalmologist has the knowledge and professional skills needed to provide comprehensive eye and vision care. Ophthalmologists are medically train…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    208D00000XGeneral Practice PhysicianA physician who specializes in the general practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
    207L00000XAnesthesiology PhysicianAn anesthesiologist is trained to provide pain relief and maintenance, or restoration, of a stable condition during and immediately following an opera…
    282N00000XGeneral Acute Care HospitalAn acute general hospital is an institution whose primary function is to provide inpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services for a variety of medica…
    163WX0601XOtorhinolaryngology & Head-Neck Registered NurseNursing Service Providers · Registered Nurse
    174200000XMeals ProviderA public or privately owned facility providing meals to individuals traveling long distances or receiving prolonged outpatient medical services away f…
    207UN0901XNuclear Cardiology PhysicianA nuclear medicine physician who specializes in nuclear cardiology.

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    25 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A60.9Anogenital herpesviral infection, unspecified
    B07.9Viral wart, unspecified
    B08.1Molluscum contagiosum
    D23.9Other benign neoplasm of skin, unspecified
    I83.90Asymptomatic varicose veins of unspecified lower extremity
    L01.00Impetigo, unspecified
    L03.90Cellulitis, unspecified
    L03.91Acute lymphangitis, unspecified
    L08.9Local infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
    L29.9Pruritus, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 25

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Topical Acne-Non-Retinoid ProductsCigna2026-08-15
    Dermatology - Vtama Drug Quantity Management Policy - Per DaysCigna2026-08-15
    Medical Necessity Guidelines: Acne and Rosacea Medicationsharvard pilgrim health care2026-08-11
    Pharmacologic Treatment of PsoriasisPremera Bluecross2026-08-01
    Winlevi (clascoterone 1% cream) — Topical AcneCigna2026-08-01
    Spevigo (spesolimab‑sbzo) for generalized pustular psoriasisUnitedHealthcare2026-08-01
    Onychomycosis Testingblue cross blue shield - louisiana2026-08-01
    Spesolimab-sbzo (Spevigoblue cross blue shield - tennessee2026-07-31
    Home ultraviolet light therapy equipment for skin conditionsselect_health2026-07-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-17000-DESTRUCTION-FIRST-PREMALIGNANT-LESION

    CPT 17000: Destruction of First or Only Premalignant Lesion

    CPT-17003-DESTRUCTION-PREMALIGNANT-LESIONS-ADD-ON-2-14-LESIONS

    CPT 17003: Destruction of Premalignant Lesion (Add‑On, Lesions 2–14)

    CPT-17004-DESTRUCTION-15-OR-MORE-PREMALIGNANT-LESIONS

    CPT 17004: Destruction of 15+ Premalignant Lesions

    CPT-17106-LASER-DESTRUCTION-CUTANEOUS-VASCULAR-LESION-LESS-THAN-10CM2

    CPT 17106: Cutaneous Vascular Lesion Destruction (<10 cm2)

    CPT-17107-CUTANEOUS-VASCULAR-LESION-DESTRUCTION-10-50-CM2

    CPT 17107: Cutaneous Vascular Lesion Destruction 10.0–50.0 cm2

    CPT-17108-CUTANEOUS-VASCULAR-DESTRUCTION-GREATER-THAN-50CM2

    CPT 17108: Cutaneous Vascular Lesion Destruction >50 cm2

    CPT-17110-DESTRUCTION-BENIGN-CUTANEOUS-LESIONS-1-TO-14

    CPT 17110: Destruction of 1–14 Benign Skin Lesions

    CPT-17111-DESTRUCTION-BENIGN-SKIN-LESIONS-15-OR-MORE

    CPT 17111: Destruction of 15 or More Benign Skin Lesions

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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