Coding question

If the doctor removes a benign tumor from the skin of the chest, what would the code be? Any help is appreciated.

Benign Chest Tumor Removal

There really isn't a clear cut code for this. I use 21555 or 21556. I use this one for chest masses.

benign skin tumor

11400 series if this is the technique used if for example the diagnosis is 216.0–216.8 Benign neoplasm of skin. The first aspect of appropriate lesion removal coding is determining how the lesion was removed. Was it excised with a suture closure; was it shaved off; was it destroyed by ablation (e.g., by electrosurgery, cryosurgery, laser or chemical treatment)? The excision should be described as full-thickness (through the dermis) and that the code for the lesion excision includes the simple (non-layered) suture closure. If the closure requires intermediate or complex closure, those services may be reported separately with a code from the Repair (Closure) section of CPT. the CPT code should reflect the knowledge, skill, time, and effort that the physician invested in the excision of the lesion. The final code selection is made by measuring the greatest clinical diameter of the apparent lesion plus that margin required for complete excision. The margins refer to the most narrow margin required to adequately excise the lesion, based on the physician's judgment. The measurement of the lesion plus margin is made prior to excision.

benign skin lesion

Soft tissue excisions are found in the Musculoskeletal Section of CPT and are site specific. Example: Lipomas are typically benign tumors commonly found in superficial tissue, although they can also be present in subfascial and submuscular locations. If you excise the nuchal lipoma from the skin, you should use the appropriate code in the series 11420-11426, "Excision, benign lesion, except skin tag (unless listed elsewhere), scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia." If the lipoma is subcutaneous, you should use either the appropriate code in the series 11420-11426 or 21555, "Excision tumor, soft tissue of neck or thorax; subcutaneous," since both options address excision of a subcutaneous lesion/tumor. Finally, for removal of a nuchal lipoma from deep, sub-fascial or submuscular tissues, use 21556, "Excision tumor, soft tissue of neck or thorax; deep, subfascial, intramuscula