Ophthalmology and Optometry Coding Alert

Answer: Also known as a xanthoma, a xanthelasma is a small yellowish tumor of the eyelid that often indicates high levels of fat in the blood. It's not a skin tag, but it is benign, so the integumentary codes are appropriate. Use 11440 (excision, other benign lesion [unless listed elsewhere], face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, mucous membrane; lesion diameter 0.5 cm or less) or 11441 ( lesion diameter 0.6 to 1.0 cm); a xanthoma is unlikely to be larger. If more than skin is excised, use 67840* (excision of lesion of eyelid [except chalazion] without closure or with simple direct closure).