excision melanoma CPT® code help

Procedure: Excision of thigh melanoma. Performed in elliptical fasion with 2 cm margins, taken all the way down to the muscle and required advancement flap closure.

Would this be coded with a 14021 (11606 included) or from the soft tissue section 27329 or 27364 (flaps included)?

I don't have a clear understanding of the differences particularly with skin cancers/melanomas with deeper excisions. Any help is much appreciated!

Excision of Melanoma

HI
If this is a primary malignant melanoma, a skin lesion, with the deep extension as documented, the service is reported as a skin lesion and not a soft tissue tumor code.
In your scenario, assuming this is a primary melanoma and the defect was closed with an advancement flap, you would report the advancement flap only as the excision of the skin lesion is included.

Issues such as this are discussed in the official American College of Surgery sponsored National Coding and Reimbursement Workshops for General Surgeons presented by KarenZupko & Associates. Visit www.karenzupko.com or www.facs.org to learn more about these highly recommended courses.

Mary LeGrand

Thank you

Mary, thank you for the clarification.
I was fortunate enough to attend the workshop in Las Vegas and refer to my books often. In addition to the great material and presentations, I found the discussions to be invaluable. I hope to attend again as there is so much information to take in. Thanks again!