Summary & Overview
CPT 54050: Chemical Destruction of Penile Skin Lesion
CPT code 54050 denotes the chemical destruction of a skin lesion on the penis, such as condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, or a herpetic vesicle. This procedure, performed with local chemical agents to eradicate lesions and relieve pain, is a focused, often outpatient service relevant to urology, dermatology, and primary care practices. Nationally, accurate use of this code matters for clinical documentation, correct claim processing, and tracking office-based procedural care for sexually transmitted and other dermatologic conditions.
Key payers discussed include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of clinical context and typical sites of service, plus guidance on what to expect in payer coverage approaches and common billing patterns. The publication covers benchmarks where available, coding best-practice considerations, and policy updates affecting outpatient procedural reimbursement. The content helps clinicians, coding professionals, and revenue cycle staff understand when CPT code 54050 applies, how it fits into procedural coding workflows, and what documentation elements are commonly required to support medical necessity. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 54050 describes the destruction of a skin lesion on the penis (examples include condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, or herpetic vesicle) by local application of a chemical agent. The procedure is performed to eradicate the lesion and relieve pain.
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Service type: Chemical destruction of skin lesion
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Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, office-based procedure, or ambulatory surgical setting depending on clinical context
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 28-year-old male presents to a urology clinic with several small, raised, papillomatous lesions on the glans and shaft of the penis consistent with condyloma acuminata. The lesions cause intermittent pruritus and mild discomfort during sexual activity. The clinician performs a focused genital skin exam, documents lesion size, number, and location, obtains relevant sexual history and informed consent, and discusses treatment options. After topical anesthesia or no anesthesia depending on lesion sensitivity, the provider applies a chemical agent (for example, trichloroacetic acid) directly to each lesion to achieve chemical destruction. The procedure is billed using 54050 for chemical destruction of penile skin lesions. Post-procedure instructions are provided for wound care, pain control, and return precautions. Follow-up may be scheduled to assess lesion resolution and screen for sexually transmitted infections as indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Office or other outpatient visit for evaluation and management | Use when an E/M service is billed with the procedure and the visit is a standard, straightforward office encounter. |
22 |