Summary & Overview

CPT 17270: Destruction of Malignant Lesion ≤0.5 cm

CPT code 17270 covers destruction of a malignant skin lesion 0.5 cm or less in diameter on high-exposure or sensitive sites — scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia — using methods such as chemosurgery, cryosurgery, or electrosurgery. The code standardizes reporting for a common, low‑complexity dermatologic procedure that impacts claims processing, quality measurement, and oncology procedural tracking nationwide.

Key payers in this analysis 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 how the code is used for billing small malignant lesion destructions. The publication also presents payer coverage considerations and comparative benchmarks where available, notes on typical service settings, and references to related procedural codes for situational context.

This summary is written for a national audience to support coding accuracy, payer communication, and operational planning for outpatient dermatologic and minor surgical services.

AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCigna HealthUnitedHealthcareMedicare17270CPTlesion destructiondermatologyoncologic procedureoutpatient procedurecryosurgeryelectrosurgerychemosurgery

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 17270 describes destruction of a malignant lesion measuring 0.5 cm or less in diameter on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia. Techniques may include chemosurgery, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, or other destructive methods.

Service Type: Lesion destruction (malignant), single small lesion

Typical Site of Service: Office, outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgical setting, or other outpatient procedure locations where minor dermatologic procedures are performed.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old male presents to the dermatology clinic with a biopsy-proven cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma on the dorsal surface of the right hand measuring 0.4 cm in greatest diameter. The lesion is well localized, non-ulcerated, and there are no clinical signs of regional lymphadenopathy. The dermatologist reviews the pathology report, confirms candidacy for destructive therapy, obtains informed consent, and documents the lesion size, location, and technique. On the day of service the provider performs cryosurgery to destroy the visible malignant lesion under local anesthesia. The procedure is performed in the office setting; the encounter includes history and focused exam, lesion measurement and mapping, application of the destructive modality, immediate post-procedure wound care instructions, and documentation of follow-up for surveillance and scar assessment.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`26`	Professional component	Use when reporting only the physician professional component separate from a facility or technical component if allowed by payer.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when identical malignant lesions are destroyed on anatomically paired sites during the same operative session.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207P00000X	Dermatology	Most common specialty performing skin lesion destruction for malignant lesions.
208D00000X	General Surgery	Performs excision or destructive procedures for cutaneous malignancies, especially on hands/feet/scalp when surgical management indicated.
207L00000X	Dermatopathology	Provides diagnostic support via biopsy and pathology interpretation; documents malignant histology prior to destructive therapy.
207K00000X	Mohs Surgery (Dermatologic Surgery)	Specialists who treat skin cancers; may perform destructive modalities for small lesions in select circumstances.
363L00000X	Podiatry	Common provider for lesions on the feet; may perform destructive techniques for small cutaneous malignancies of the foot.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C44.311`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right forearm	Common malignant skin cancer that may be treated with destructive techniques when small.
`C44.319`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left forearm	Same as above for contralateral site; relevant when bilateral coding needed.
`C44.51`	Basal cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck	Basal cell carcinoma small lesions may be treated with destructive modalities in select cases.
`C44.621`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right hand	Directly relevant for lesions located on the hands treated by `17270`.
`C44.622`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left hand	Contralateral hand lesion code for bilateral or separate-site treatments.
`C44.71`	Malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs	Relevant because `17270` includes genitalia as anatomic site for malignant lesion destruction.
`C44.92`	Malignant neoplasm of skin of unspecified site	Used when documentation does not specify precise anatomic location but malignancy confirmed.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11102`	Tangential biopsy of skin (e.g., shave), single lesion	Diagnostic biopsy that may precede `17270` to establish malignant histology.
`11600`	Excision, malignant lesion including margins, trunk, arms, or legs; 0.5 cm or less	Surgical excision alternative to destructive techniques for small malignant skin lesions; used when excision is chosen over destruction.
`17000`	Destruction of premalignant lesion (e.g., actinic keratosis), first lesion	Performed for premalignant lesions; distinguishes non-malignant from malignant lesion management.
`17340`	Destruction of malignant lesion, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips; lesion diameter 0.5 cm or less	Alternative site-specific malignant lesion destruction code for head/neck areas not covered by `17270` site list.
`12001`	Simple repair of superficial wounds 2.5 cm or less	May be performed if wound closure is required after excision rather than destruction; relevant in workflow when conversion to excision occurs.