Summary & Overview
CPT 41110: Excision of Lesion from Tongue
CPT code 41110 denotes surgical excision of a lesion from the tongue, a procedure commonly performed to remove benign or malignant oral lesions. Nationally, this code captures operative management of localized tongue pathology and is relevant for surgical specialties including otolaryngology and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Proper coding affects claims processing, clinical documentation, and national procedure utilization tracking.
Key payers included in this analysis are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise review of clinical context for the procedure, standard sites of service, and the payer landscape that commonly reimburses for this service. The publication also summarizes available benchmarks and payment policy considerations where available, and highlights clinical circumstances that typically accompany use of this code.
This summary is intended for billing staff, practice managers, and policy analysts who need a national-level reference to the procedure represented by CPT code 41110. Data not available in the input is noted where relevant.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 41110 describes a surgical procedure in which the provider makes an incision in the tongue and excises a lesion from the tongue. This procedure is a form of partial glossectomy or tongue lesion excision intended to remove localized lesions of the tongue tissue.
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Service type: Surgical excision of a tongue lesion
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Typical site of service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center; may also be performed in a procedure room depending on clinical and facility capabilities
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is a 45-year-old adult who presents to an otolaryngology or oral surgery clinic with a well-circumscribed, symptomatic lesion on the mobile tongue (e.g., a fibroma, mucous retention cyst, benign neoplasm, or suspicious mucosal lesion). The patient reports localized pain, intermittent bleeding, or progressive growth. Evaluation includes focused oral examination, lesion measurement, possible intraoral photography, and review of medical history and anticoagulant use. Consent is obtained for excision and possible biopsy. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia in an ambulatory surgery center or office-based procedure room; general anesthesia may be used if patient anxiety, size/location of lesion, or airway concerns require it. The surgeon makes an incision through tongue mucosa, dissects and excises the lesion with margin control, achieves hemostasis, and closes the wound with sutures as indicated. The specimen is submitted for pathology. Postoperative instructions address pain control, bleeding precautions, diet modifications, and follow-up for suture removal and pathology discussion. Typical payors include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, BUCA, and Medicare depending on patient coverage.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
22 | Increased procedural services | Use when the work or time required is substantially greater than usual for 41110 and well-documented. |