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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesDestruction Procedures on Malignant Lesions of the Integumentary SystemCPT cpt-17272-destruction-malignant-lesion-1-1-to-2-0-cm
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    CPT 17272: Destruction of Malignant Lesion 1.1–2.0 cm

    Medicare pays $190 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 17272 describes destruction of a malignant lesion measuring 1.1 cm to 2.0 cm in diameter using techniques such as chemosurgery, cryosurgery, electrosurgery, or other destructive methods; the service is lesion destruction and the typical sites of service include the scalp, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia where the lesion is located.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 68-year-old male presents to the dermatology clinic with a biopsy-confirmed squamous cell carcinoma on the dorsal hand. The lesion measures approximately 1.4 cm in greatest diameter and is confined to the skin without deep tissue invasion. After discussion of treatment options, the dermatologist elects to perform destructive therapy using electrosurgery in the procedure room. The patient is positioned on the exam table, the area is cleaned and locally anesthetized with a field block, and appropriate sterile draping is applied. The provider destroys the malignant lesion with electrosurgical fulguration and curettage, ensuring complete coverage of the 1.1–2.0 cm diameter lesion. Hemostasis is achieved and a protective dressing is applied. The clinical workflow includes pre-procedure consent and documentation of lesion size, location (hand), histologic confirmation of malignancy, technique used (electrosurgery), anesthesia administered, and post-procedure wound care instructions. Billing is submitted under 17272 with any applicable modifiers (for example 59 if a distinct procedural service was performed on the same day) and the appropriate ICD-10 diagnosis code for cutaneous malignancy.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    17000Destruction (e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), first lesionUsed for benign lesions or non-malignant cutaneous lesions; may be reported when malignant pathology is not present.
    17003Destruction, each additional lesion (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure)Used when multiple benign lesions are treated in the same session; relevant if multiple malignant lesions of appropriate size are destroyed (check payer rules).
    11400Excision, benign lesion including margins, 0.5 cm or lessAlternative to destructive methods when excision with pathology is preferred; used for lesions requiring removal with histologic margins.
    11600Excision, malignant lesion including margins, trunk, arms or legs; lesion diameter 0.5 cm or lessRelated excision code set for malignant lesions when surgical excision is chosen instead of destructive therapy; larger sizes have corresponding codes.
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit, global serviceUsed for routine postoperative follow-up related to the procedure when applicable.
    99070Supplies and materials (e.g., bandages, dressing, and other supplies)Used to report supplies used during the procedure when not included in the base procedure allowance and accepted by the payer.

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207R00000X
    207L00000X
    2084P0800X
    2086S0105X
    207K00000X
    2085P0229X
    251K00000X
    364SP1700X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    14 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C44.311Basal cell carcinoma of skin of nose
    C44.319Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face
    C44.511Basal cell carcinoma of skin of breast
    C44.519Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other part of trunk
    C44.611Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder
    C44.612Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder
    C44.619Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder
    C44.711Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified lower limb, including hip
    C44.712Basal cell carcinoma of skin of right lower limb, including hip
    C44.719Basal cell carcinoma of skin of left lower limb, including hip

    Showing 1–10 of 14

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Dermatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    Mohs Micrographic Surgerypremerabluecrossofwashington2027-02-05
    FilsuvezCigna2026-11-01
    Destruction of Pre-Malignant Skin LesionsAnthem2026-10-01
    Onychomycosis diagnostic testing and coverageOscar Health2026-10-01
    Treatment of Capillary Malformations (Port Wine Stains)universityofutahhealthplans2026-09-28
    AnzupgoCigna2026-09-15
    Hyperhidrosispriority_health_medicare2026-09-01
    Zevaskyn Coverage for Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis BullosaCigna2026-09-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-17260-MALIGNANT-LESION-DESTRUCTION-TRUNK-ARMS-LEGS-05CM

    CPT 17260: Destruction of Malignant Lesion on Trunk/Arms/Legs ≤0.5 cm

    CPT-17261-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-TRUNK-ARMS-LEGS-06-10-CM

    CPT 17261: Destruction of Malignant Lesion, Trunk/Arms/Legs 0.6–1.0 cm

    CPT-17262-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-1-1-TO-2-0-CM-TRUNK-ARMS-LEGS

    CPT 17262: Destruction of Malignant Lesion, Trunk/Arms/Legs 1.1–2.0 cm

    CPT-17263-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-2-1-3-0-CM-TRUNK-ARMS-LEGS

    CPT 17263: Destruction of Malignant Lesion on Trunk/Arms/Legs (2.1–3.0 cm)

    CPT-17264-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-TRUNK-ARMS-LEGS-3CM-4CM

    CPT 17264: Destruction of Malignant Lesion on Trunk/Arms/Legs 3.1–4.0 cm

    CPT-17266-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-TRUNK-ARMS-LEGS-GT4CM

    CPT 17266: Destruction of Malignant Lesion on Trunk/Arms/Legs (>4.0 cm)

    CPT-17270-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-05-CM-OR-LESS

    CPT 17270: Destruction of Malignant Skin Lesion ≤0.5 cm

    CPT-17271-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-SKIN-LESION-0-6-1-0-CM

    CPT 17271: Destruction of Malignant Lesion 0.6–1.0 cm

    CPT-17273-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-LESION-2-1-TO-3-0-CM-SCALP-NECK-HANDS-FEET-GENITALIA

    CPT 17273: Destruction of Malignant Skin Lesion 2.1–3.0 cm

    CPT-17274-DESTRUCTION-MALIGNANT-SKIN-LESION-3-1-4-0-CM

    CPT 17274: Destruction of Malignant Skin Lesion 3.1–4.0 cm

    Showing 1–10 of 17

    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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