Summary & Overview
CPT 46917: Laser Destruction of Anal Lesion
CPT code 46917 identifies laser destruction of an anal lesion, including condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, and herpetic vesicles. The code is used to bill for a targeted, minimally invasive tissue ablation procedure in the anorectal region. Nationally, this code captures common outpatient procedural care for benign and viral lesions that can impact patient comfort, infection control, and follow-up management.
Key payers in the national landscape include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers can expect coverage and payment benchmarking across major commercial and federal payers, standard clinical indications tied to lesion types, and typical sites of service such as ambulatory surgery centers, hospital outpatient departments, and office procedure settings.
This publication summarizes how CPT code 46917 is defined and used, highlights relevant clinical context for coding and claim submission, and outlines the types of information typically included in payer policies and fee schedules. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable, and the focus remains on national-level coding, clinical description, and what practitioners and billing professionals need to know about when this code applies.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 46917 describes the destruction of an anal lesion, such as a condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, or herpetic vesicle, using a laser. This procedure involves targeted ablation of a lesion in the anorectal region.
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Service type: Minor surgical/dermatologic lesion destruction procedure performed with a laser
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgery center, hospital outpatient department, or physician office procedure room
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult who presents to a colorectal surgery clinic or ambulatory procedural suite with one or more symptomatic external or perianal benign lesions such as condyloma acuminata (anogenital warts), papillomas, molluscum contagiosum, or a persistent herpetic vesicle that has failed conservative therapy. The patient history includes lesion duration, symptoms (pain, bleeding, pruritus), prior topical or cryotherapy treatments, and sexual history. Physical exam documents lesion size, number, location (perianal, anal verge, or distal anal canal), and proximity to sphincter muscles.
Pre-procedure workflow includes informed consent, verification of anticoagulation status, photography or lesion mapping, and local anesthesia or procedural sedation as indicated. The provider uses a surgical laser to ablate or vaporize the lesion(s) under direct visualization. Hemostasis is achieved with the laser or adjunct measures. Post-procedure instructions address wound care, pain control, sexual activity restrictions, and return precautions. Follow-up is scheduled for wound check and to assess for recurrence or need for further treatment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management provided by the same physician during a postoperative period | Use when a significant, separately identifiable E/M service is reported on the same day as the procedure during a global period and documentation supports it. |