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Official Description

Excision and repair of eyelid, involving lid margin, tarsus, conjunctiva, canthus, or full thickness, may include preparation for skin graft or pedicle flap with adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement; up to one-fourth of lid margin

© Copyright 2026 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Common Language Description

The CPT® Code 67961 refers to the surgical procedure involving the excision and repair of a lesion located on the eyelid, specifically when the lesion affects the lid margin, tarsus, conjunctiva, canthus, or the full thickness of the eyelid. This procedure is typically performed when the lesion is suspected to be malignant, with common types including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, and melanoma. During the excision, the lesion is removed along with a margin of healthy tissue to ensure complete removal of any cancerous cells. Following the excision, the resulting defect is repaired, which may involve the use of a skin graft or a pedicle flap, as well as adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement. The extent of the excision is limited to up to one-fourth of the lid margin. The surgical technique employed may vary depending on whether the upper or lower eyelid is being treated and the specific location of the defect on the eyelid. The procedure also includes a pathological examination of the excised tissue to confirm that the margins are clear of malignancy; if they are not, further excision is performed until clean margins are achieved. The reconstruction of the eyelid is a critical component of this procedure, ensuring both functional and aesthetic restoration of the eyelid following the removal of the lesion.

© Copyright 2026 Coding Ahead. All rights reserved.

1. Indications

The procedure described by CPT® Code 67961 is indicated for the excision and repair of eyelid lesions that involve the lid margin, tarsus, conjunctiva, canthus, or full thickness of the eyelid. The specific indications for this procedure include:

  • Malignant Lesions Lesions that are suspected to be malignant, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma, and melanoma, necessitate excision to prevent further spread and to ensure complete removal of cancerous tissue.
  • Lesions Affecting Eyelid Structures Any lesions that compromise the structural integrity of the eyelid, including those that invade deeper tissues like the tarsus or conjunctiva, require surgical intervention to restore function and appearance.

2. Procedure

The procedure for CPT® Code 67961 involves several critical steps, which are detailed as follows:

  • Step 1: Preoperative Preparation Prior to the surgical procedure, the patient is evaluated, and the lesion is marked for excision. Anesthesia is administered to ensure patient comfort during the procedure.
  • Step 2: Excision of the Lesion The surgeon excises the lesion along with a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. This is crucial to ensure that any malignant cells are completely removed. The excision may involve deeper structures of the eyelid, including the lid margin, tarsus, or conjunctiva.
  • Step 3: Pathological Examination The excised tissue is sent for pathological examination to confirm that the margins are clear of malignancy. If the margins are not clean, further excision is performed until clear margins are obtained.
  • Step 4: Reconstruction of the Eyelid After confirming clean margins, the surgical defect is reconstructed. Depending on the size and location of the defect, a skin graft or pedicle flap may be utilized. If a skin graft is chosen, an appropriate donor site is selected, and the graft is harvested, prepared, and sutured in place over the defect. If a pedicle flap is used, the flap is elevated and rotated over the defect, secured with sutures, and the defect created by the flap is closed in layers.

3. Post-Procedure

Post-procedure care for patients undergoing the excision and repair of eyelid lesions includes monitoring for any signs of infection or complications at the surgical site. Patients are typically advised on wound care, which may involve keeping the area clean and dry, and applying prescribed topical medications. Follow-up appointments are essential to assess healing and to remove sutures if necessary. The expected recovery time may vary based on the extent of the excision and the individual patient's healing process. Patients should also be informed about potential changes in eyelid function or appearance and the importance of adhering to follow-up care to ensure optimal outcomes.

Short Descr REVISION OF EYELID
Medium Descr EXCISION & REPAIR EYELID < ONE-FOURTH LID MARGIN
Long Descr Excision and repair of eyelid, involving lid margin, tarsus, conjunctiva, canthus, or full thickness, may include preparation for skin graft or pedicle flap with adjacent tissue transfer or rearrangement; up to one-fourth of lid margin
Status Code Active Code
Global Days 090 - Major Surgery
PC/TC Indicator (26, TC) 0 - Physician Service Code
Multiple Procedures (51) 2 - Standard payment adjustment rules for multiple procedures apply.
Bilateral Surgery (50) 1 - 150% payment adjustment for bilateral procedures applies.
Physician Supervisions 09 - Concept does not apply.
Assistant Surgeon (80, 82) 0 - Payment restriction for assistants at surgery applies to this procedure...
Co-Surgeons (62) 0 - Co-surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Team Surgery (66) 0 - Team surgeons not permitted for this procedure.
Diagnostic Imaging Family 99 - Concept Does Not Apply
APC Status Indicator Hospital Part B services paid through a comprehensive APC
ASC Payment Indicator Surgical procedure on ASC list in CY 2007; payment based on OPPS relative payment weight.
Type of Service (TOS) 2 - Surgery
Berenson-Eggers TOS (BETOS) P4E - Eye procedure - other
MUE 2
CCS Clinical Classification 19 - Other therapeutic procedures on eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea
E2 Lower left, eyelid
LT Left side (used to identify procedures performed on the left side of the body)
59 Distinct procedural service: under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was distinct or independent from other non-e/m services performed on the same day. modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services, other than e/m services, that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. documentation must support a different session, different procedure or surgery, different site or organ system, separate incision/excision, separate lesion, or separate injury (or area of injury in extensive injuries) not ordinarily encountered or performed on the same day by the same individual. however, when another already established modifier is appropriate it should be used rather than modifier 59. only if no more descriptive modifier is available, and the use of modifier 59 best explains the circumstances, should modifier 59 be used. note: modifier 59 should not be appended to an e/m service. to report a separate and distinct e/m service with a non-e/m service performed on the same date, see modifier 25.
51 Multiple procedures: when multiple procedures, other than e/m services, physical medicine and rehabilitation services or provision of supplies (eg, vaccines), are performed at the same session by the same individual, the primary procedure or service may be reported as listed. the additional procedure(s) or service(s) may be identified by appending modifier 51 to the additional procedure or service code(s). note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
E4 Lower right, eyelid
RT Right side (used to identify procedures performed on the right side of the body)
E1 Upper left, eyelid
E3 Upper right, eyelid
50 Bilateral procedure: unless otherwise identified in the listings, bilateral procedures that are performed at the same session, should be identified by adding modifier 50 to the appropriate 5 digit code. note: this modifier should not be appended to designated "add-on" codes (see appendix d).
SG Ambulatory surgical center (asc) facility service
79 Unrelated procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: the individual may need to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was unrelated to the original procedure. this circumstance may be reported by using modifier 79. (for repeat procedures on the same day, see modifier 76.)
22 Increased procedural services: when the work required to provide a service is substantially greater than typically required, it may be identified by adding modifier 22 to the usual procedure code. documentation must support the substantial additional work and the reason for the additional work (ie, increased intensity, time, technical difficulty of procedure, severity of patient's condition, physical and mental effort required). note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
54 Surgical care only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performs a surgical procedure and another provides preoperative and/or postoperative management, surgical services may be identified by adding modifier 54 to the usual procedure number.
55 Postoperative management only: when 1 physician or other qualified health care professional performed the postoperative management and another performed the surgical procedure, the postoperative component may be identified by adding modifier 55 to the usual procedure number.
58 Staged or related procedure or service by the same physician or other qualified health care professional during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that the performance of a procedure or service during the postoperative period was: (a) planned or anticipated (staged); (b) more extensive than the original procedure; or (c) for therapy following a surgical procedure. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 58 to the staged or related procedure. note: for treatment of a problem that requires a return to the operating/procedure room (eg, unanticipated clinical condition), see modifier 78.
76 Repeat procedure or service by same physician or other qualified health care professional: it may be necessary to indicate that a procedure or service was repeated by the same physician or other qualified health care professional subsequent to the original procedure or service. this circumstance may be reported by adding modifier 76 to the repeated procedure or service. note: this modifier should not be appended to an e/m service.
78 Unplanned return to the operating/procedure room by the same physician or other qualified health care professional following initial procedure for a related procedure during the postoperative period: it may be necessary to indicate that another procedure was performed during the postoperative period of the initial procedure (unplanned procedure following initial procedure). when this procedure is related to the first, and requires the use of an operating/procedure room, it may be reported by adding modifier 78 to the related procedure. (for repeat procedures, see modifier 76.)
80 Assistant surgeon: surgical assistant services may be identified by adding modifier 80 to the usual procedure number(s).
82 Assistant surgeon (when qualified resident surgeon not available): the unavailability of a qualified resident surgeon is a prerequisite for use of modifier 82 appended to the usual procedure code number(s).
AG Primary physician
AQ Physician providing a service in an unlisted health professional shortage area (hpsa)
AS Physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or clinical nurse specialist services for assistant at surgery
CR Catastrophe/disaster related
GA Waiver of liability statement issued as required by payer policy, individual case
GC This service has been performed in part by a resident under the direction of a teaching physician
GW Service not related to the hospice patient's terminal condition
PT Colorectal cancer screening test; converted to diagnostic test or other procedure
T2 Left foot, third digit
XS Separate structure, a service that is distinct because it was performed on a separate organ/structure
XU Unusual non-overlapping service, the use of a service that is distinct because it does not overlap usual components of the main service
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