Summary & Overview
CPT 69105: Excision of Lesion, External Auditory Canal with Pathology
CPT code 69105 denotes partial surgical excision of an abnormal lesion in the external auditory canal with submission of the specimen for pathological analysis. This procedure is clinically important for diagnosing and managing suspicious ear canal lesions that may be benign or malignant, and it impacts referral patterns, procedural site selection, and pathology utilization nationwide. Major payers commonly covering this service nationally include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.
Readers will find a concise overview of clinical indications and the procedural context, plus operational benchmarks and payer coverage considerations relevant to facilities and clinicians. The publication summarizes expected sites of service, common billing modifiers encountered in practice (input provided), and where available, national policy or reimbursement updates that affect coding and claims adjudication. The piece also provides clinical context for when biopsy and partial excision of external auditory canal lesions are used as diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Data not available in the input is noted where applicable. The aim is to equip billing administrators, otolaryngology providers, and revenue cycle teams with clear, actionable context about CPT code 69105 for consistent coding, claim submission, and clinical documentation alignment.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 69105 describes the surgical removal of part of an abnormal lesion from the external auditory canal, the ear passage between the outer opening and the tympanic membrane. The excised tissue is submitted to pathology to determine whether the lesion is malignant or benign.
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Service type: Surgical excision with pathology submission
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Typical site of service: Ambulatory surgical center, hospital outpatient department, or physician office with minor procedure capability
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult who presents to an otolaryngology clinic with a persistent, enlarging, or symptomatic lesion of the external auditory canal (EAC) — for example, a granular mass, exophytic keratosis, suspicious nevus, or a firm papule that intermittently bleeds or causes canal obstruction. The provider performs an otologic examination including otoscopy and may obtain imaging (CT of the temporal bone) if deeper invasion is suspected. After informed consent, local anesthesia with or without monitored anesthesia care is used in an outpatient procedure room or ambulatory surgery center. The surgeon surgically excises part or all of the abnormal tissue from the external auditory canal and sends the specimen to surgical pathology to determine whether the lesion is benign (e.g., ceruminous adenoma, exostosis) or malignant (e.g., squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma). Hemostasis is achieved, and the ear canal is dressed; follow-up includes pathology review and wound checks, with additional oncologic treatment arranged if malignancy is confirmed.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
LT | Left side | Use when the procedure is performed on the left external auditory canal |
RT | Right side |