Pediatric Coding Alert

Question: When we code for removal of warts, do we use the code for each wart, or do the codes cover multiple removals?

Virginia Subscriber

Answer: CPT includes two codes based on the number of warts removed during a single session. According to CPT guidelines, report 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) when you remove 14 or fewer lesions. Choose 17111 (... 15 or more lesions) for more than 14 lesions.