CPT 17000 | Destruction Of Premalignant Lesions (First Lesion)
CPT code 17000 refers to destroying a single premalignant lesion through various methods, including lasers, electricity, chemicals, or surgical instruments.
What Is CPT Code 17000
CPT code 17000 describes the destruction of a single premalignant lesion, such as actinic keratosis, through laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, or surgical curettement.
This procedure may involve local anesthesia and may be performed by exposing the targeted lesion to a laser beam, high-frequency electrical current, chemical agents, liquid nitrogen, or a surgical curette.
Description
The CPT book describes CPT code 17000 as: “Destruction (e.g., laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), premalignant lesions (e.g., actinic keratoses); first lesion.”
Procedure
When the patient is appropriately prepped, the provider may choose to administer anesthesia, such as local anesthesia.
The provider destroys one premalignant lesion, such as actinic keratosis, without destroying the surrounding tissue. The provider may use various methods for lesion destruction.
Examples include exposing the targeted lesion to a laser beam, high–frequency electrical current, or chemical agents.
The provider also may use liquid nitrogen or a surgical curette (a scraping instrument) to destroy the lesion. Use this code for the first or only lesion treated.
How To Use CPT 17000
CPT 17000 can only be used for the first or only lesion treated.
Report add-on code CPT 17003 for destroying premalignant lesions 2 to 14. Report one unit per lesion.
Report CPT 17004 for the destruction of 15 or more premalignant lesions.
