Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 46916: Destruction of Anal Lesion Using Cryotherapy

CPT code 46916 covers destruction of anal lesions using cold agents such as liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The procedure is commonly used to treat condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, and small herpetic vesicles in outpatient settings. Nationally, this code represents a focused procedural service relevant to colorectal, dermatologic, and general surgical practices and factors into utilization, reimbursement, and access to minor operative treatments.

Key payers in typical analyses include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and the payer landscape. The publication summarizes common modifiers and coding considerations, comparisons to related procedural codes, and benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement where available.

This brief prepares clinicians, billing staff, and policy analysts to identify when CPT code 46916 applies, understand which payers commonly cover the service, and locate related coding and policy content in the full publication. Data not available in the input is identified where applicable.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 46916 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 46916 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

CPT code 46916 describes destruction of an anal lesion (for example, condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, or herpetic vesicle) using cold substances such as liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

Service Type: Destruction procedure (cryotherapy) of anal lesion

Typical Site of Service: Outpatient procedural settings, commonly performed in ambulatory surgery centers, physician offices (colorectal surgery, dermatology, or primary care procedure rooms), or hospital outpatient departments.

Data not available in the input.

Find policies, billing codes, payers, states, and providers

CPT 46916: Destruction of Anal Lesion Using Cryotherapy

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for cpt 46916 policy alerts

Get alerted when payer policies referencing 46916 are released or updated.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

Billing Code Overview

Service Type: Destruction procedure (cryotherapy) of anal lesion

Data not available in the input.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A typical patient is an adult presenting to an outpatient dermatology or colorectal clinic with one or more small, localized anal lesions suspected clinically to be condyloma acuminata (anogenital warts), molluscum contagiosum, benign papilloma, or a herpetic vesicle. The patient history often includes itching, irritation, bleeding with defecation, or visible papules at the anal verge. Examination by the provider confirms a discrete lesion(s) appropriate for topical destruction.

The clinical workflow begins with history and focused anorectal/skin examination, documentation of lesion size, number, and location, and informed consent for liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) or other cold-destructive modalities. The provider isolates and visualizes the lesion using appropriate lighting and, if needed, an anoscope for deeper lesions. Lesions are treated with controlled applications of liquid nitrogen spray or cryoprobe; duration and freeze–thaw cycles are documented. Post-procedure instructions address pain control, wound care, signs of infection, and follow-up for recurrence or additional treatments. Procedures are typically performed in an outpatient office or ambulatory surgery setting under local anesthesia only when indicated. Billing uses surgical code 46916 for destruction of an anal lesion by cryotherapy.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day as a procedure	Use when an E/M visit is medically necessary and documented separately from the procedure visit on the same date.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the service required substantially greater work than typically required and supporting documentation justifies additional payment.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the service performed is partially reduced or eliminated at the physician’s discretion.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when a different procedure or service, not normally reported together, is performed on the same day and is distinct/anatomic-site specific.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when the procedure is performed bilaterally and the payer requires a bilateral modifier instead of modifier `59`.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when multiple procedures are performed at the same session and payer requires `51` to denote additional procedures.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is intentionally partially reduced or not completed as documented.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued due to unforeseen complications or patient condition.
`76`*	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same procedure is repeated subsequent to the original on the same day.
`77`*	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when the same procedure is repeated by a different physician on the same day.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207P00000X`	Dermatology	Common specialty performing cryotherapy for perianal skin lesions.
`207RH0000X`	Colorectal Surgery	Performs anorectal lesion management, often when deeper lesion evaluation is needed.
`2086S0102X`	Family Medicine	Performs minor procedures including cryotherapy in the office setting.
`208D00000X`	General Surgery	May treat anal lesions and perform operative management when indicated.
`363A00000X`	Infectious Disease	Consults for atypical or resistant viral skin lesions affecting the anus.

*Note: 76 and 77 were not included in the original supplied modifier list; they are common clinical modifiers for repeats but are not part of the provided raw modifiers. If strict adherence to supplied modifiers is required, omit these.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`A63.0`	Anogenital (venereal) warts	Primary indication for cryotherapy of anal condyloma.
`B07`	Viral warts	Includes papillomas and other verrucae that may occur perianally.
`B08.1`	Molluscum contagiosum	Viral skin infection treated with local destructive modalities when lesions persist.
`A60.9`	Anogenital herpesviral infection, unspecified	Small herpetic vesicles may be destructed in select cases or require topical therapy; procedural documentation helps justify intervention.
`L98.9`	Disorder of skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified	Used when a nonspecific benign anal skin lesion is treated and a more specific code is unavailable.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11100`	Biopsy of single lesion, skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane (simple)	Performed when diagnostic confirmation of an anal lesion is required prior to or instead of destruction.
`46600`	Excision of lesion(s) of anal canal (simple)	Used when lesion requires surgical excision rather than destructive therapy; may follow failed cryotherapy.
`45330`	Anoscopy; diagnostic, without intervention	Used to visualize anal canal lesions prior to cryotherapy for deeper or less visible lesions.
`99024`	Postoperative follow-up visit global period excluded	Used for post-procedure wound check when payer requires separate reporting (varies by payer policy).
`17000`	Destruction (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemical agent) of benign lesions, up to 14 lesions	Used for multiple superficial cutaneous lesions at other body sites; documents scope when multiple lesions are treated but not specific to anal canal.

CPT 46900: Chemical Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46910-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION-CAUTERY

CPT 46910: Destruction of Anal Lesion by Thermal Cautery

CPT-46917-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION-LASER

CPT 46917: Laser Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46922-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION-EXCISION

CPT 46922: Excision or Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46924-EXTENSIVE-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION

CPT 46924: Extensive Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46930-INTERNAL-HEMORRHOID-THERMAL-DESTRUCTION

CPT 46930: Destruction of Internal Hemorrhoids by Thermal Techniques

CPT-46940-ANAL-FISSURE-OTOMY-AND-SPHINCTER-DILATION

CPT 46940: Anal Fissure Removal with Anal Sphincter Dilation

CPT-46942-ANAL-FISSURE-DEBRIDEMENT-AND-SPHINCTER-DILATION-SUBSEQUENT

CPT 46942: Anal Fissure Removal with Anal Sphincter Dilation (Subsequent)

CPT-46945-HEMORRHOIDECTOMY-SINGLE-HEMORRHOID-EXCISION-NON-RUBBER-BAND

CPT 46945: Hemorrhoidectomy for Single Hemorrhoid or Group

CPT-46946-EXCISION-MULTIPLE-HEMORRHOIDS-NON-RUBBER-BAND-TECHNIQUES

CPT 46946: Excision of Two or More Hemorrhoids (Non-Rubber Band)

Showing 1–10 of 12

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`25`	Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management service by the same physician on the same day as a procedure	Use when an E/M visit is medically necessary and documented separately from the procedure visit on the same date.
`22`	Increased procedural services	Use when the service required substantially greater work than typically required and supporting documentation justifies additional payment.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the service performed is partially reduced or eliminated at the physician’s discretion.
`59`	Distinct procedural service	Use when a different procedure or service, not normally reported together, is performed on the same day and is distinct/anatomic-site specific.
`50`	Bilateral procedure	Use when the procedure is performed bilaterally and the payer requires a bilateral modifier instead of modifier `59`.
`51`	Multiple procedures	Use when multiple procedures are performed at the same session and payer requires `51` to denote additional procedures.
`52`	Reduced services	Use when the procedure is intentionally partially reduced or not completed as documented.
`53`	Discontinued procedure	Use when the procedure is started but discontinued due to unforeseen complications or patient condition.
`76`*	Repeat procedure by same physician	Use when the same procedure is repeated subsequent to the original on the same day.
`77`*	Repeat procedure by another physician	Use when the same procedure is repeated by a different physician on the same day.

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
`207P00000X`	Dermatology	Common specialty performing cryotherapy for perianal skin lesions.
`207RH0000X`	Colorectal Surgery	Performs anorectal lesion management, often when deeper lesion evaluation is needed.
`2086S0102X`	Family Medicine	Performs minor procedures including cryotherapy in the office setting.
`208D00000X`	General Surgery	May treat anal lesions and perform operative management when indicated.
`363A00000X`	Infectious Disease	Consults for atypical or resistant viral skin lesions affecting the anus.

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`A63.0`	Anogenital (venereal) warts	Primary indication for cryotherapy of anal condyloma.
`B07`	Viral warts	Includes papillomas and other verrucae that may occur perianally.
`B08.1`	Molluscum contagiosum	Viral skin infection treated with local destructive modalities when lesions persist.
`A60.9`	Anogenital herpesviral infection, unspecified	Small herpetic vesicles may be destructed in select cases or require topical therapy; procedural documentation helps justify intervention.
`L98.9`	Disorder of skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified	Used when a nonspecific benign anal skin lesion is treated and a more specific code is unavailable.

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`11100`	Biopsy of single lesion, skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane (simple)	Performed when diagnostic confirmation of an anal lesion is required prior to or instead of destruction.
`46600`	Excision of lesion(s) of anal canal (simple)	Used when lesion requires surgical excision rather than destructive therapy; may follow failed cryotherapy.
`45330`	Anoscopy; diagnostic, without intervention	Used to visualize anal canal lesions prior to cryotherapy for deeper or less visible lesions.
`99024`	Postoperative follow-up visit global period excluded	Used for post-procedure wound check when payer requires separate reporting (varies by payer policy).
`17000`	Destruction (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemical agent) of benign lesions, up to 14 lesions	Used for multiple superficial cutaneous lesions at other body sites; documents scope when multiple lesions are treated but not specific to anal canal.

CPT 46900: Chemical Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46910-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION-CAUTERY

CPT 46910: Destruction of Anal Lesion by Thermal Cautery

CPT-46917-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION-LASER

CPT 46917: Laser Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46922-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION-EXCISION

CPT 46922: Excision or Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46924-EXTENSIVE-ANAL-LESION-DESTRUCTION

CPT 46924: Extensive Destruction of Anal Lesion

CPT-46930-INTERNAL-HEMORRHOID-THERMAL-DESTRUCTION

CPT 46930: Destruction of Internal Hemorrhoids by Thermal Techniques

CPT-46940-ANAL-FISSURE-OTOMY-AND-SPHINCTER-DILATION

CPT 46940: Anal Fissure Removal with Anal Sphincter Dilation

CPT-46942-ANAL-FISSURE-DEBRIDEMENT-AND-SPHINCTER-DILATION-SUBSEQUENT

CPT 46942: Anal Fissure Removal with Anal Sphincter Dilation (Subsequent)

CPT-46945-HEMORRHOIDECTOMY-SINGLE-HEMORRHOID-EXCISION-NON-RUBBER-BAND

CPT 46945: Hemorrhoidectomy for Single Hemorrhoid or Group

CPT-46946-EXCISION-MULTIPLE-HEMORRHOIDS-NON-RUBBER-BAND-TECHNIQUES

CPT 46946: Excision of Two or More Hemorrhoids (Non-Rubber Band)

Showing 1–10 of 12

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Jul 29, 2026.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

OpenPayer

CPT 46916: Destruction of Anal Lesion Using Cryotherapy

Sign up for cpt 46916 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Catch payer policy changes before they impact reimbursement

Catch payer policy changes before they impact reimbursement

OpenPayer

CPT 46916: Destruction of Anal Lesion Using Cryotherapy

Sign up for cpt 46916 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

References

CPT 46916: Destruction of Anal Lesion Using Cryotherapy

Sign up for cpt 46916 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 46916: Destruction of Anal Lesion Using Cryotherapy

Sign up for cpt 46916 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What procedure and clinical scenarios does CPT 46916 cover?

Which specialties typically perform or are involved with procedures billed under 46916?

Which modifiers are commonly relevant when billing CPT 46916 and when should they be used?

What related CPT codes should be considered when coding or analyzing services near 46916?

What procedural and documentation elements does the page say should be captured when performing a 46916 procedure?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What procedure and clinical scenarios does CPT 46916 cover?

Which specialties typically perform or are involved with procedures billed under 46916?

Which modifiers are commonly relevant when billing CPT 46916 and when should they be used?

What related CPT codes should be considered when coding or analyzing services near 46916?

What procedural and documentation elements does the page say should be captured when performing a 46916 procedure?

References