Dr.Smith performed pairing of six hyperkeratotic lesions from the left index finger. What is the correct CPT code?

Dr.Smith performed pairing of six hyperkeratotic lesions from the left index finger. What is the correct CPT code?

• A. 11056
• B. 11057
• C. 11058
• D. 11059

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how CPT codes handle debridement or paring of skin lesions when multiple lesions are treated in one visit. When you remove or pare several keratotic lesions in the same session, you don’t code each lesion separately with a single “first lesion” code; instead you use the category that represents multiple lesions treated in one encounter (the code for “each additional lesion”). Six hyperkeratotic lesions on one finger qualify as multiple lesions treated during a single visit, so the most appropriate code is the one that captures multiple lesions in one encounter. This code reflects that multiple lesions were debrided in one session rather than just a single lesion. The other options correspond to either a single lesion or to different size categories, which don’t fit when there are six lesions treated together.

The main idea here is how CPT codes handle debridement or paring of skin lesions when multiple lesions are treated in one visit. When you remove or pare several keratotic lesions in the same session, you don’t code each lesion separately with a single “first lesion” code; instead you use the category that represents multiple lesions treated in one encounter (the code for “each additional lesion”).

Six hyperkeratotic lesions on one finger qualify as multiple lesions treated during a single visit, so the most appropriate code is the one that captures multiple lesions in one encounter. This code reflects that multiple lesions were debrided in one session rather than just a single lesion. The other options correspond to either a single lesion or to different size categories, which don’t fit when there are six lesions treated together.