How To Use cpt 11641

cpt 11641 describes the excision of a malignant lesion, including margins, on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips, with a diameter ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 cm. This article will cover the description, procedure, qualifying circumstances, appropriate usage, documentation requirements, billing guidelines, historical information, and examples of cpt 11641.

1. What is cpt 11641?

cpt 11641 is a code used to describe the excision of a malignant lesion, including margins, on specific areas of the face, such as the ears, eyelids, nose, or lips. The diameter of the lesion being excised should range from 0.6 to 1.0 cm. This procedure involves removing the cancerous tissue along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete removal of the lesion.

2. Official Description

The official description of cpt 11641 is: ‘Excision, malignant lesion including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips excised diameter 0.6 to 1.0 cm.’

3. Procedure

1. The provider prepares the patient and administers local anesthesia to the affected area.
2. A margin of healthy tissue is identified and outlined with a marking pen.
3. The provider makes a full-thickness incision through the skin, encompassing the entire lesion and the previously outlined margins.
4. All margins are cleaned and bleeding is controlled.
5. The wound is closed with sutures.
6. If necessary, the excised lesion may be sent to a laboratory for further evaluation or a frozen section may be performed to determine if additional excision of margins is required.

4. Qualifying circumstances

cpt 11641 is used for the excision of malignant lesions on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips with a diameter ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 cm. The procedure is performed on lesions such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or basal cell carcinoma. These malignant lesions can be locally invasive and have the potential to spread to other parts of the body if left untreated.

5. When to use cpt code 11641

cpt 11641 should be used when a provider performs the excision of a malignant lesion, including margins, on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips, with a diameter ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 cm. It is important to accurately document the size of the lesion and its location to support the use of this code.

6. Documentation requirements

To support a claim for cpt 11641, the following documentation is required:

• Diagnosis of a malignant lesion
• Size of the lesion (0.6 to 1.0 cm)
• Location of the lesion (face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips)
• Details of the excision procedure, including the use of local anesthesia
• Description of the margins excised
• Any additional procedures performed, such as a frozen section or further excision of margins

7. Billing guidelines

When billing for cpt 11641, ensure that the excision is performed on a malignant lesion with a diameter ranging from 0.6 to 1.0 cm on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, or lips. It is important to accurately document the size and location of the lesion to support the use of this code. If multiple lesions are excised during the same session, modifier 59 may be appended to indicate that each excision is a distinct procedural service.

8. Historical information

cpt 11641 was added to the Current Procedural Terminology system on January 1, 1990. There have been no updates or changes to the code since its addition.

9. Similar codes to cpt 11641

Five similar codes to cpt 11641 include:

• cpt 11640: Excision, malignant lesion including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips excised diameter 0.5 cm or less
• cpt 11642: Excision, malignant lesion including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips excised diameter 1.1 to 2.0 cm
• cpt 11643: Excision, malignant lesion including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips excised diameter 2.1 to 3.0 cm
• cpt 11644: Excision, malignant lesion including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips excised diameter 3.1 to 4.0 cm
• cpt 11646: Excision, malignant lesion including margins, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips excised diameter over 4.0 cm

9. Examples

1. A dermatologist performs the excision of a 0.8 cm basal cell carcinoma on a patient’s nose.
2. A plastic surgeon removes a 0.7 cm squamous cell carcinoma from a patient’s eyelid.
3. An otolaryngologist excises a 0.9 cm melanoma from a patient’s ear.
4. A maxillofacial surgeon performs the excision of a 0.6 cm basal cell carcinoma on a patient’s lip.
5. A facial plastic surgeon removes a 1.0 cm squamous cell carcinoma from a patient’s face.
6. A dermatologist excises a 0.8 cm basal cell carcinoma on a patient’s nose, and during the same session, removes a 0.5 cm basal cell carcinoma on the patient’s cheek (modifier 59 would be appended to indicate distinct procedural services).
7. A plastic surgeon performs the excision of a 0.7 cm squamous cell carcinoma on a patient’s eyelid, and during the same session, removes a 0.6 cm basal cell carcinoma on the patient’s nose (modifier 59 would be appended to indicate distinct procedural services).
8. An otolaryngologist excises a 0.9 cm melanoma from a patient’s ear, and during the same session, removes a 0.8 cm squamous cell carcinoma from the patient’s face (modifier 59 would be appended to indicate distinct procedural services).
9. A maxillofacial surgeon performs the excision of a 0.6 cm basal cell carcinoma on a patient’s lip, and during the same session, removes a 0.7 cm melanoma from the patient’s ear (modifier 59 would be appended to indicate distinct procedural services).