Summary & Overview
CPT 30118: Excision or Destruction of Intranasal Lesion, External Approach
CPT code 30118 represents surgical excision or destruction of an intranasal lesion performed via an external full-thickness nasal incision. This procedure code captures cases in which a provider accesses the intranasal lesion through an external nasal approach to remove or ablate the abnormal tissue. Nationally, accurate coding for procedures like 30118 matters for clinical documentation, surgical quality tracking, and proper claims adjudication for otolaryngology and facial plastic procedures.
Key payers addressed in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for when 30118 is used, common sites of service, and the typical surgical setting. The publication also summarizes benchmark considerations and payer coverage patterns where available, outlines relevant billing modifiers and coding relationships (where provided), and highlights points of attention for claims processing and documentation. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 30118 describes an external approach excision or destruction of an intranasal lesion by creating a full-thickness incision in the nose to remove or destroy the lesion. This procedure is surgical in nature and addresses lesions located within the nasal cavity using an external nasal approach.
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Service type: Surgical excision/destruction of intranasal lesion via external approach
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center or hospital operating room, depending on clinical complexity and resource needs
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 54-year-old patient presents to an otolaryngology clinic with a symptomatic intranasal mass causing intermittent epistaxis and nasal obstruction. After nasal endoscopy and imaging suggest a localized benign-appearing intranasal lesion that cannot be accessed adequately through an intranasal approach, the surgeon schedules an external approach for excision. In the operating room under monitored anesthesia care or general anesthesia, the surgeon creates a full-thickness external nasal incision to access and excise or destroy the intranasal lesion. Hemostasis is achieved, reconstructive steps for the external incision are completed, and the specimen is submitted for pathology. Typical perioperative workflow includes preoperative evaluation, informed consent documenting the external approach and risks, intraoperative documentation of the full-thickness nasal incision and lesion removal, and postoperative instructions for wound care and follow-up for pathology results.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Primary procedure | Use when this excision is the primary service performed during the encounter. |
22 | Increased procedural services |