Dermatology Coding Alert
Reader Questions:
Keloid Scar Removal Most Likely Means 17110
Published on Wed Feb 02, 2011 
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Question:
Missouri Subscriber
Answer:
First, determine the way the dermatologist treated the keloid. Occasionally, the scar may be excised, or it may be simply treated with an intralesional injection. For excision, use 17110 (Destruction [e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement], of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; up to 14 lesions) with diagnosis 701.4 (Keloid scar). Codes 17110 and 17111 (... 15 or more lesions) are now used for destruction of common or plantar warts.Rewind:
In 2007, these codes were revised to include destruction of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular lesions.Other way:
Confirm how your physician removes the keloid and base your reporting on this. More importantly, you should want to note his method of destruction or excision.Red flag:
Do not resort to reporting the procedure as 17999 (Unlisted procedure, skin, mucous membrane and subcutaneous tissue) as there are other CPT codes that define it more clearly.Other Articles in this issue of
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