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CPT 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen for Pathology

Headline: CPT code 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen Sent for Pathology

Lead: CPT code 69110 documents surgical removal of part of the external ear (for example, earlobe or helix) when a lesion is present, with the excised tissue submitted for laboratory diagnosis. This code captures a common minor surgical procedure used to establish histologic diagnosis and guide subsequent care.

CPT code 69110 matters nationally because it documents both a surgical intervention and a diagnostic step—removal of tissue with submission for pathology—which affects clinical decision-making, resource use, and payment across outpatient settings. Key payers referenced in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare.

Readers will learn the clinical context for use of CPT code 69110, typical sites of service, and payer coverage considerations. The publication provides benchmarks for utilization and reimbursement where available, summarizes relevant policy updates affecting outpatient minor surgical procedures and specimen submission, and outlines coding and billing considerations that influence claim adjudication. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable.

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Billing Code Overview

CPT code 69110 describes an excision of a portion of the external ear (such as the earlobe or helix) that contains a lesion, with the specimen sent to the laboratory for diagnostic evaluation to determine malignant or benign pathology.

Service type: Surgical excision of external ear lesion
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital outpatient department

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CPT 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen for Pathology

Headline: CPT code 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen Sent for Pathology

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Billing Code Overview

Service type: Surgical excision of external ear lesion
Typical site of service: Outpatient clinic, ambulatory surgical center, or hospital outpatient department

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

A 62-year-old patient presents to an outpatient dermatology clinic with a 6-mm crusted, changing lesion on the helix of the right ear that has bled intermittently. On exam the lesion is suspicious for basal cell carcinoma. The dermatologist schedules a minor outpatient surgical procedure to excise the lesion with narrow margins under local anesthesia. The specimen is placed in formalin and sent to the pathology laboratory for histologic diagnosis to determine benign versus malignant disease. Typical workflow: pre-procedure consent and history, local anesthetic infiltration, surgical excision of the external ear lesion, hemostasis and simple closure, specimen labeling and submission to pathology, post-procedure wound care instructions, and documentation of size of specimen, margins, and diagnosis code for billing and medical record.

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When excisions are performed on both ears during the same operative session
`51`	Multiple procedures	When other distinct procedures are performed on the same day in addition to the excision
`52`	Reduced services	When the excision is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate and distinct procedure is performed on the ear in addition to the excision (not normally described by modifier `51`)
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing portions of the excision
`66`	Surgical team	When a surgical team performs the procedure under team reporting rules
`73`	Discontinued outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery prior to anesthesia	When the outpatient excision is discontinued prior to anesthesia or the procedure start in an ambulatory surgery center
`78`	Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period	When the patient requires a return to the operating room for management of a complication related to the ear excision
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period for the excision
`LT`	Left side	To indicate the procedure was performed on the left ear
`RT`	Right side	To indicate the procedure was performed on the right ear
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing portions of the excision
`26`	Professional component	When reporting a service that has a professional component separate from technical components (rare for simple excisions; more applicable if imaging or interpretation is billed)

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207Q00000X	Dermatology	Most common specialty performing skin and external ear lesion excisions
208900000X	Otolaryngology (ENT)	Performs excisions on ear structures, particularly helix and other auricular locations
208000000X	Plastic Surgery	Performs complex auricular excisions and reconstructions when larger defects or cosmetic repair is required
261QA1900X	General Surgery	May perform excisions in certain settings, especially when combined with other procedures

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C44.219`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear	Malignant lesion on the external ear; definitive excision and pathology required to confirm and stage
`C44.119`	Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other part of face	Basal cell carcinoma commonly involves auricular skin; excision confirms diagnosis and provides treatment
`L57.0`	Actinic keratosis	Premalignant lesion that can occur on sun-exposed ear skin and may be treated with excision if suspicious or refractory
`L98.0`	Pyogenic granuloma	Benign vascular lesion that may be excised from the earlobe or helix for symptomatic control and diagnosis
`D22.1`	Melanocytic nevi of skin of other and unspecified parts of face	Pigmented lesions on the ear may be excised for diagnostic evaluation to exclude melanoma

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`12031`	Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet): 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm	Used when layered closure is required after excision on the ear and coding for wound repair is needed in addition to the excision
`12032`	Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet): 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm	Used for larger closures after ear lesion excision when intermediate repair length meets criteria
`11100`	Biopsy of skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane (excluding single lesion of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips)	May be performed as an initial diagnostic biopsy prior to definitive excision; if a shave or punch biopsy was done previously, both may appear in the record
`11102`	Tangential biopsy of skin (shave); single lesion	Applicable when a shave biopsy of an ear lesion is performed prior to or instead of full-thickness excision
`88305`	Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, intermediate complexity	Represents typical CPT for pathologic interpretation of the submitted excised ear lesion specimen

CPT 69100: Excision of External Ear Lesion for Pathology

CPT-69105-EXCISION-EXTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL-LESION-PATHOLOGY

CPT 69105: Excision of Lesion, External Auditory Canal with Pathology

CPT-69120-TOTAL-EXTERNAL-EAR-RESECTION

CPT 69120: Total Removal of External Ear (Total Auriculectomy)

CPT-69140-EXTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL-OSTEOPHYTE-REMOVAL

CPT 69140: Removal of Bony Osteophytes From External Auditory Canal

CPT-69145-EXCISION-LESION-EXTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL

CPT 69145: Excision of Lesion, External Auditory Canal

CPT-69150-EXTENSIVE-EXCISION-EXTERNAL-EAR-CANAL-LESION

CPT 69150: Extensive Excision of External Ear Canal Lesion

CPT-69155-MASSIVE-EXCISION-EXTERNAL-EAR-CANAL-WITH-NECK-DISSECTION

CPT 69155: Excision of Massive Metastatic External Ear Canal Tumor

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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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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.

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Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Modifier	Description	When to Use
`50`	Bilateral procedure	When excisions are performed on both ears during the same operative session
`51`	Multiple procedures	When other distinct procedures are performed on the same day in addition to the excision
`52`	Reduced services	When the excision is partially reduced or not completed as originally planned
`53`	Discontinued procedure	When the procedure is terminated due to extenuating circumstances prior to completion
`59`	Distinct procedural service	When a separate and distinct procedure is performed on the ear in addition to the excision (not normally described by modifier `51`)
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing portions of the excision
`66`	Surgical team	When a surgical team performs the procedure under team reporting rules
`73`	Discontinued outpatient hospital/ambulatory surgery prior to anesthesia	When the outpatient excision is discontinued prior to anesthesia or the procedure start in an ambulatory surgery center
`78`	Return to the operating room for a related procedure during the postoperative period	When the patient requires a return to the operating room for management of a complication related to the ear excision
`79`	Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician during the postoperative period	When an unrelated procedure is performed during the global period for the excision
`LT`	Left side	To indicate the procedure was performed on the left ear
`RT`	Right side	To indicate the procedure was performed on the right ear
`62`	Two surgeons	When two surgeons work together as primary surgeons performing portions of the excision
`26`	Professional component	When reporting a service that has a professional component separate from technical components (rare for simple excisions; more applicable if imaging or interpretation is billed)

Taxonomy Code	Specialty	Notes
207Q00000X	Dermatology	Most common specialty performing skin and external ear lesion excisions
208900000X	Otolaryngology (ENT)	Performs excisions on ear structures, particularly helix and other auricular locations
208000000X	Plastic Surgery	Performs complex auricular excisions and reconstructions when larger defects or cosmetic repair is required
261QA1900X	General Surgery	May perform excisions in certain settings, especially when combined with other procedures

Related Diagnoses

ICD-10 Code	Description	Clinical Relevance
`C44.219`	Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear	Malignant lesion on the external ear; definitive excision and pathology required to confirm and stage
`C44.119`	Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other part of face	Basal cell carcinoma commonly involves auricular skin; excision confirms diagnosis and provides treatment
`L57.0`	Actinic keratosis	Premalignant lesion that can occur on sun-exposed ear skin and may be treated with excision if suspicious or refractory
`L98.0`	Pyogenic granuloma	Benign vascular lesion that may be excised from the earlobe or helix for symptomatic control and diagnosis
`D22.1`	Melanocytic nevi of skin of other and unspecified parts of face	Pigmented lesions on the ear may be excised for diagnostic evaluation to exclude melanoma

Related CPT Codes

CPT Code	Description	Relationship to This Procedure
`12031`	Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet): 2.6 cm to 7.5 cm	Used when layered closure is required after excision on the ear and coding for wound repair is needed in addition to the excision
`12032`	Repair, intermediate, wounds of scalp, axillae, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet): 7.6 cm to 12.5 cm	Used for larger closures after ear lesion excision when intermediate repair length meets criteria
`11100`	Biopsy of skin, subcutaneous tissue and/or mucous membrane (excluding single lesion of face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips)	May be performed as an initial diagnostic biopsy prior to definitive excision; if a shave or punch biopsy was done previously, both may appear in the record
`11102`	Tangential biopsy of skin (shave); single lesion	Applicable when a shave biopsy of an ear lesion is performed prior to or instead of full-thickness excision
`88305`	Surgical pathology, gross and microscopic examination, intermediate complexity	Represents typical CPT for pathologic interpretation of the submitted excised ear lesion specimen

CPT 69100: Excision of External Ear Lesion for Pathology

CPT-69105-EXCISION-EXTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL-LESION-PATHOLOGY

CPT 69105: Excision of Lesion, External Auditory Canal with Pathology

CPT-69120-TOTAL-EXTERNAL-EAR-RESECTION

CPT 69120: Total Removal of External Ear (Total Auriculectomy)

CPT-69140-EXTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL-OSTEOPHYTE-REMOVAL

CPT 69140: Removal of Bony Osteophytes From External Auditory Canal

CPT-69145-EXCISION-LESION-EXTERNAL-AUDITORY-CANAL

CPT 69145: Excision of Lesion, External Auditory Canal

CPT-69150-EXTENSIVE-EXCISION-EXTERNAL-EAR-CANAL-LESION

CPT 69150: Extensive Excision of External Ear Canal Lesion

CPT-69155-MASSIVE-EXCISION-EXTERNAL-EAR-CANAL-WITH-NECK-DISSECTION

CPT 69155: Excision of Massive Metastatic External Ear Canal Tumor

Frequently Asked Questions

References

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.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.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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CPT 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen for Pathology

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Billing Code Overview

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CPT 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen for Pathology

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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 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen for Pathology

Sign up for cpt 69110 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

CPT 69110: Excision of External Ear Lesion, Specimen for Pathology

Sign up for cpt 69110 policy alerts

Billing Code Overview

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical service does CPT 69110 represent and where is it commonly performed?

Which modifiers commonly apply to CPT 69110 and when should they be used?

What additional CPT codes might appear on the claim with 69110?

What documentation elements are described as typical for procedures billed with 69110?

Which specialties and payers are associated with procedures coded with 69110?

References

Clinical & Coding Specifications

Clinical Context

Coding Specifications

Related Diagnoses

Related CPT Codes

Related Codes

What clinical service does CPT 69110 represent and where is it commonly performed?

Which modifiers commonly apply to CPT 69110 and when should they be used?

What additional CPT codes might appear on the claim with 69110?

What documentation elements are described as typical for procedures billed with 69110?

Which specialties and payers are associated with procedures coded with 69110?

References