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    OpenPayerBilling CodesExcision Procedures on the Vulva, Perineum and IntroitusCPT cpt-56605-vulvar-perineal-lesion-excision-biopsy
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    CPT 56605: Excision of Single Vulvar or Perineal Lesion

    Medicare pays $96 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 56605 describes surgical excision of suspicious tissue from a single lesion of the vulva or perineum, where the provider removes the lesion and submits the specimen to a laboratory for pathological analysis; this is a minor surgical procedure (excision/biopsy) typically performed in an outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgery center, or office-based procedure suite and involves tissue removal for diagnostic evaluation.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Prolonged Services for Labor Management, Prolonged Services for Labor Management, Cervical Cancer Screening.

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A 42-year-old woman presents to a gynecology clinic with a single, persistent, irregular pigmented lesion on the left labia majora that has been symptomatic with intermittent bleeding and pruritus for six weeks. After clinical examination and discussion, the gynecologist schedules an excisional biopsy of the suspicious vulvar lesion to obtain tissue for histopathologic diagnosis. The patient arrives to an outpatient ambulatory surgery center; preoperative consent is obtained, local or monitored anesthesia is administered, and the provider excises the lesion with margins appropriate for diagnostic evaluation. The specimen is labeled and sent to the pathology laboratory for microscopic analysis and final diagnosis. Postoperative instructions and a follow-up visit are arranged to review pathology and plan further management depending on results.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    11102Tangential biopsy of skin (e.g., shave), single lesionAlternative less invasive biopsy technique for superficial lesions prior to or instead of an excisional biopsy.
    11100Biopsy of skin, single lesion, punchCommon alternative to excisional biopsy when lesion size and depth permit punch technique.
    57061Biopsy, vulva; single or multiple punchVulvar-specific biopsy CPT sometimes used for small lesions or sampling.
    12032Closure of wounds of other areas (intermediate), 2.6 cm to 7.5 cmCode often billed for layered closure of the excision site when required after lesion removal.
    99024Postoperative follow-up visit, postoperative period, following surgeryUsed by some payors to document routine postoperative visits related to the excision (payor rules vary).
    88305Level IV surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examinationTypical pathology code for evaluation of an excised vulvar lesion submitted for diagnosis.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…
    76Modifier -76, Repeat Procedure or Service by Same Physician or Other Qualified Health Care Professional, is appended when the same provider performs an identical, medically necessary procedure or…- Use modifier -76 when the same physician or other qualified health care professional performs an identical procedure or service a second (or subsequent) time on the same date of service and the…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    79Modifier 79 indicates a surgical procedure performed during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery that is unrelated to the original procedure. Per AMA/CPT and CMS guidance, it is…- Use modifier 79 when the same physician (or same‑specialty physician in the same group) performs a surgical procedure during the postoperative global period of a prior surgery and the new procedure…
    50Modifier –50 (Bilateral Procedure) is appended to a CPT code when an identical procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures during the same operative session. The AMA states to add…- Use modifier -50 when the same CPT surgical, diagnostic, or radiology procedure is performed on paired anatomical structures (both sides of the body) during the same operative/session by the same…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…
    57CPT® modifier -57 (“Decision for Surgery”) is appended to an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service when that encounter results in the initial decision to perform a major surgery (a procedure with a…- Use modifier 57 when an E/M service provided by the same provider (or same tax ID) on the day of or the day before a major surgical procedure (90‑day global period) results in the initial decision…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy CodeSpecialtyNotes
    207QG0300XGeriatric Medicine (Family Medicine) PhysicianA family medicine physician with special knowledge of the aging process and special skills in the diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitati…
    208D00000XGeneral Practice PhysicianA physician who specializes in the general practice of diagnosing, treating, and managing patients with a variety of illnesses and conditions.
    231H00000XAudiologist(1) A specialist in evaluation, habilitation and rehabilitation of those whose communication disorders center in whole or in part in hearing function.…
    208000000XPediatrics PhysicianA pediatrician is concerned with the physical, emotional and social health of children from birth to young adulthood. Care encompasses a broad spectru…
    1223G0001XGeneral Practice DentistryA general dentist is the primary dental care provider for patients of all ages. The general dentist is responsible for the diagnosis, treatment, manag…
    405300000XPrevention ProfessionalPrevention Professionals work in programs aimed to address specific patient needs, such as suicide prevention, violence prevention, alcohol avoidance,…
    225XP0200XPediatric Occupational TherapistOccupational therapists provide services to infants, toddlers and children who have or who are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. Occup…
    261QV0200XVA Clinic/CenterAmbulatory Health Care Facilities · Clinic/Center

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Obstetrics/Gynecology1 / 2

    8 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Prolonged Services for Labor ManagementPremera Bluecross2027-01-01
    Cervical Cancer ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Testing for Fetal AneuploidyOscar Health2026-10-01
    Diagnosis of VaginitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Prenatal Screening (Nongenetic)Oscar Health2026-10-01
    View PDF of Maternal Serum Biomarkers for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric Outcomes, Effective 10/1/2026 in MedicalBlue Cross Blue Shield - Rhode Island2026-10-01
    Maternal Serum Testing for Prediction of Adverse Obstetric OutcomesBluecross Idaho2026-09-01

    Related Codes

    CPT-56606-EXCISION-VULVA-PERINEUM-ADDITIONAL-LESIONS

    CPT 56606: Excision of Additional Vulvar or Perineal Lesions

    CPT-56620-SIMPLE-VULVECTOMY-GYNECOLOGIC-EXCISION

    CPT 56620: Simple Vulvectomy for Benign or Premalignant Vulvar Conditions

    CPT-56625-SIMPLE-VULVECTOMY-GYNECOLOGIC-SURGERY

    CPT 56625: Simple Vulvectomy for Benign or Premalignant Vulvar Disease

    CPT-56630-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-MAJOR-ONCOLOGIC-SURGERY

    CPT 56630: Radical Vulvectomy for Malignant Disease

    CPT-56631-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-UNILATERAL-INGUINOFEMORAL-NODE

    CPT 56631: Radical Vulvectomy with Unilateral Inguinofemoral Lymph Node Dissection

    CPT-56632-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-WITH-INGUINOFEMORAL-LYMPH-NODE-DISSECTION

    CPT 56632: Radical Vulvectomy with Bilateral Inguinofemoral Lymphadenectomy

    CPT-56633-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-SURGICAL-ONCOLOGY

    CPT 56633: Radical Vulvectomy for Malignant Disease

    CPT-56634-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-INGUINOFEMORAL-LYMPH-NODE

    CPT 56634: Radical Vulvectomy with Unilateral Inguinofemoral Lymph Node Removal

    CPT-56637-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-WITH-BILATERAL-LYMPHADENECTOMY

    CPT 56637: Radical Vulvectomy with Inguinofemoral Lymphadenectomy

    CPT-56640-RADICAL-VULVECTOMY-WITH-LYMPHADENECTOMY

    CPT 56640: Radical Vulvectomy with Lymph Node Dissection

    Showing 1–10 of 12

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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