CPT Code Overview

CPT 17000 describes the destruction of a single benign or premalignant skin lesion using methods such as laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, or surgical curettement. The code applies to all benign or premalignant lesions (for example, actinic keratoses) except skin tags and cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions.

Service Type: Destruction Procedures on Benign or Premalignant Lesions of the Integumentary System

Typical Site of Service: Office (POS 11)

Clinical Context

A 68-year-old patient presents to a dermatology office with multiple rough, scaly patches on sun-exposed areas of the face and forearms. The clinician identifies a clinically suspicious lesion consistent with an actinic keratosis and elects to perform a destruction procedure in the office using cryosurgery for the most symptomatic lesion. The encounter includes lesion evaluation, informed consent, topical or local anesthesia as needed, and application of the destructive modality. Post-procedure wound care instructions and short-term follow-up are provided.

Coding Specifications

• Common Modifiers:

• 59 — Distinct Procedural Service: Use when the destruction procedure is separate and distinct from another service performed on the same day (for example, a separate lesion procedure that is not bundled with another surgical procedure).

• 51 — Multiple Procedures: Use when multiple procedures are performed during the same encounter and payer policy requires reporting a secondary procedure indicator for additional services.

• Provider Taxonomies and Specialties:

| Taxonomy Code | Specialty |---|---| | 207N00000X | Dermatology | | 207ND0101X | MOHS-Micrographic Surgery | | 207NS0135X | Procedural Dermatology |

• Notes on use:

• Use 59 when documentation supports that the procedure is separate and distinct from other billed services on the same day.

• Use 51 when reporting multiple procedures per payer rules; payer-specific sequencing and bundling rules apply.

Related Diagnoses

• L57.0 — Actinic keratosis

  Actinic keratosis is a common premalignant epidermal lesion typically treated with destruction modalities such as cryosurgery or electrosurgery; it is a primary indication for 17000.

• D23.9 — Other benign neoplasm of skin, unspecified

  Benign skin neoplasms may be managed with destructive techniques when excision is not indicated; this code represents a general benign lesion diagnosis that can justify 17000 when documented.

• L82.1 — Other seborrheic keratosis

  Seborrheic keratoses are benign epidermal lesions that are often removed for symptoms or cosmetic reasons using destructive methods described by 17000.

• L85.8 — Other specified epidermal thickening

  Epidermal thickening variants that are benign or premalignant may be treated with destruction procedures; this diagnosis can support the use of 17000 when clinically indicated.

• L91.8 — Other hypertrophic disorders of the skin

  Hypertrophic benign disorders of the skin treated with destructive modalities can be coded to this diagnosis when appropriate documentation links the lesion to the procedure 17000.

Related CPT Codes

| CPT Code | Description |---|---| | 17003 | Destruction (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), all benign or premalignant lesions (eg, actinic keratoses) other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; second through 14 lesions, each (List separately in addition to code for first lesion) | | 17004 | Destruction (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), all benign or premalignant lesions (eg, actinic keratoses) other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; 15 or more lesions |

• 17003 and 17004 are additional quantity or encounter-level codes that relate directly to 17000 when multiple lesions are destroyed in the same session: 17000 is reported for the first lesion, 17003 for lesions two through 14 (each), and 17004 when 15 or more lesions are treated.

• These codes are commonly used together in a single office visit when multiple benign or premalignant lesions are treated; they are alternatives only based on the total number of lesions treated during the encounter.

Medicare mean allowed rate of $68.91 is below the BUCA (average commercial) mean of $80.55, indicating commercial payers on average reimburse more than Medicare for 17000 nationally. Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, and BUCA mean rates fall between Medicare and the higher commercial means represented by Cigna and UnitedHealth Group.

Dispersion measured by the interquartile range (P75–P25) is widest for Cigna (64.83) and UnitedHealth Group (61.42), indicating broader rate variability among those payers. Dispersion is tightest for Medicare (8.00) and Aetna (26.50), reflecting more compressed national distributions for those payers. The table and chart below present the full percentile and mean breakdown by payer.