Urology Coding Alert

Question: For CO₂ laser ablation of genital condyloma that is on the scrotum, should I report code 54057 (Destruction of lesion(s), penis (eg, condyloma, papilloma, molluscum contagiosum, herpetic vesicle), simple; laser surgery) or code 17110 (Destruction (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; up to 14 lesions)? My urologist destroyed one lesion, per the documentation.

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Answer: You should report 17110. Note that code 54057 is specifically for the procedures performed on the penis.

On the other hand, if your urologist destroyed 15 lesions or more, you should look to code 17111 (Destruction (eg, laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), of benign lesions other than skin tags or cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions; 15 or more lesions).

Also, if your urologist destroyed cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions, then you would look to codes 17106 (Destruction of cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions (eg, laser technique); less than 10 sq cm)-17108 (… over 50.0 sq cm).