Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Quiz: Assign Integumentary Excision Codes
20 questions · exam conditions
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Assign Integumentary Excision CodesQuestion 1 of 20

A dermatologist performs destruction of a 1.5 cm malignant lesion on the trunk using laser surgery (not Mohs surgery). Which CPT® code range covers destruction of malignant lesions?

17110-17111
17000-17004
17260-17286
17311-17315
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Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Quiz

Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Quiz: Assign Integumentary Excision Codes

Practice Assign Integumentary Excision Codes in Certified Professional Coder (CPC) with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Assign Integumentary Excision Codes, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

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Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

A dermatologist performs destruction of a 1.5 cm malignant lesion on the trunk using laser surgery (not Mohs surgery). Which CPT® code range covers destruction of malignant lesions?

  1. 17110-17111
  2. 17000-17004
  3. 17260-17286 (correct answer)
  4. 17311-17315
Explanation: CPT® codes 17260-17286 cover destruction of malignant lesions using various techniques, including cryosurgery, electrosurgery, laser, and photodynamic therapy. Code selection within this range is based on anatomical location and lesion size (e.g., 17270 for scalp/neck/hands/feet/genitalia, 17260 for trunk/arms/legs). Code 17311-17315 covers Mohs micrographic surgery, which is a staged excision-with-microscopy technique — not simple destruction. Code 17000-17004 covers premalignant (actinic keratosis) destruction; 17110-17111 covers benign lesion destruction.

Question 2

A surgeon excises a 0.7 cm benign lesion from the dorsum of the right hand. Which CPT® code range covers benign lesion excision on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, and/or genitalia?

  1. 11400-11406
  2. 11420-11426 (correct answer)
  3. 11440-11446
  4. 11450-11471
Explanation: CPT® 11420-11426 covers excision of benign lesions on the scalp, neck, hands, feet, and genitalia. Code 11400-11406 covers trunk, arms, and legs; 11440-11446 covers face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, and mucous membranes; 11450-11471 covers skin and subcutaneous tissue of the axillae, inguinal regions, and related areas (e.g., for hidradenitis). The hand falls in the scalp/neck/hands/feet/genitalia grouping (11420-11426). For a 0.7 cm lesion on the hand, 11421 (0.6-1.0 cm) is the specific code.

Question 3

A podiatrist performs a complete avulsion of the nail plate of the right great toenail for onychocryptosis. Which CPT® code covers avulsion of the nail plate, complete, single nail?

  1. 11720
  2. 11730 (correct answer)
  3. 11740
  4. 11750
Explanation: CPT® 11730 covers avulsion of nail plate, partial or complete, simple, single nail — the appropriate code for removal of the nail plate without permanent destruction of the nail matrix. Code 11720 covers debridement of nails by any method; 11740 covers evacuation of subungual hematoma; 11750 covers excision of nail and nail matrix, partial or complete, for permanent removal. When the nail plate is avulsed (removed) without destroying the matrix, 11730 is correct. Code 11750 is reserved for permanent nail ablation procedures.

Question 4

A surgeon excises a 0.8 cm malignant melanoma from the left cheek with 0.3 cm margins all around. The excised diameter is 1.4 cm. Which CPT® code covers malignant lesion excision on the face with excised diameter 1.1–2.0 cm?

  1. 11643
  2. 11642
  3. 11641 (correct answer)
  4. 11644
Explanation: CPT® 11641 covers excision of malignant lesion on the face, ears, eyelids, nose, and/or lips, excised diameter 1.1–2.0 cm. The face falls in the facial anatomical grouping for malignant excision codes (11640–11646). An excised diameter of 1.4 cm falls in the 1.1–2.0 cm range, making 11641 the correct code. Code 11640 covers 0.5 cm or less; 11642 covers 2.1–3.0 cm; 11643 covers 3.1–4.0 cm; 11644 covers over 4.0 cm.

Question 5

A surgeon excises a 2.5 cm malignant lesion from the left arm, with the total excised diameter including margins measuring 3.2 cm. Which CPT® code covers malignant lesion excision on the trunk/extremities with excised diameter 3.1–4.0 cm?

  1. 11601
  2. 11602
  3. 11603
  4. 11604 (correct answer)
Explanation: CPT® 11604 covers excision of malignant lesion on the trunk, arms, and/or legs, excised diameter 3.1–4.0 cm. Code 11601 covers 0.6–1.0 cm; 11602 covers 1.1–2.0 cm; 11603 covers 2.1–3.0 cm. The excised diameter of 3.2 cm falls in the 3.1–4.0 cm range, making 11604 the correct code. Code selection is based on the excised diameter (lesion plus narrowest margin), not the lesion diameter alone.

Question 6

A physician removes 12 skin tags from the neck and trunk area. Which CPT® code covers removal of up to 15 skin tags?

  1. 11200 (correct answer)
  2. 11201
  3. 11300
  4. 11305
Explanation: CPT® 11200 covers removal of skin tags, multiple fibrocutaneous tags, any area, up to and including 15 lesions. Add-on code 11201 covers each additional 10 lesions beyond the first 15. For 12 skin tags, 11200 is the only code required since 12 is within the 15-lesion threshold. Code 11300 covers shave removal, which is a different procedure type. Skin tag removal (11200) is distinct from shave removal (11300 series) in both technique and code selection.

Question 7

A physician destroys 8 flat warts (verruca plana) on the back of the hand using liquid nitrogen. Which CPT® code covers destruction of benign lesions other than skin tags, up to 14 lesions?

  1. 17000
  2. 17003
  3. 17110 (correct answer)
  4. 17111
Explanation: CPT® 17110 covers destruction of benign lesions including warts (verruca), other than cutaneous vascular proliferative lesions, 1-14 lesions. Code 17111 covers 15 or more benign lesions; 17000 covers premalignant lesions (actinic keratoses); 17003 is the add-on for additional actinic keratoses. For benign lesions such as warts, 17110 (1-14 lesions) or 17111 (15 or more) applies — not the actinic keratosis codes. Eight flat warts falls within the 1-14 range, making 17110 correct.

Question 8

A surgeon performs excision of a pilonidal cyst with simple marsupialization. Which CPT® code covers excision of a pilonidal cyst, simple?

  1. 10081
  2. 11770 (correct answer)
  3. 11771
  4. 11772
Explanation: CPT® 11770 covers excision of pilonidal cyst or sinus, simple. Code 11771 covers excision of pilonidal cyst with extensive primary closure; 11772 covers excision with complicated primary closure requiring flap or graft; 10081 covers incision and drainage of pilonidal cyst, complicated. The three pilonidal cyst excision codes (11770-11772) are differentiated by the complexity of the closure technique, not by cyst size. Simple excision without extensive or complicated closure is 11770.

Question 9

A physician performs excision of a benign lipoma from the subcutaneous tissue of the back measuring 4.0 cm. Is a lipoma excision reported using skin lesion excision codes (11400–11471) or a different code?

  1. 11406 — benign lesion excision, trunk, over 4.0 cm
  2. 27337 or applicable soft tissue excision code for lipoma (correct answer)
  3. 11402 — benign lesion excision, trunk, 1.1–2.0 cm
  4. 11900 — injection of benign lesion
Explanation: Lipomas are subcutaneous tumors typically reported using soft tissue excision codes rather than the skin lesion excision codes (11400–11471). Soft tissue excision codes (e.g., 21930 for back, 27337 for thigh) are selected based on anatomical location and depth. The skin lesion excision codes (11400–11471) are for epidermal, dermal, and subcutaneous lesions at or near the skin surface. Deep lipomas are more accurately coded from the musculoskeletal or soft tissue excision sections, not the integumentary lesion excision codes.

Question 10

A surgeon performs an incision and drainage (I&D) of a simple cutaneous abscess on the right forearm. Which CPT® code covers incision and drainage of a simple abscess?

  1. 10080
  2. 10120
  3. 10060 (correct answer)
  4. 10180
Explanation: CPT® 10060 covers incision and drainage of abscess, simple or single. Code 10061 covers complicated I&D (multiple loculations or extensive involvement); 10120 covers incision and removal of a foreign body, subcutaneous tissue; 10180 covers complex I&D of a postoperative wound infection; 10080 covers I&D of a pilonidal cyst, simple. Simple cutaneous abscess I&D is specifically coded with 10060.

Question 11

A pathologist examines an excised benign skin lesion and confirms a diagnosis of intradermal nevus of the trunk. Which ICD-10-CM code covers benign melanocytic nevus of the trunk?

  1. D22.5 (correct answer)
  2. D22.4
  3. D22.9
  4. D22.0
Explanation: ICD-10-CM D22.5 covers melanocytic nevi of the trunk. Code D22.4 covers melanocytic nevi of the scalp and neck; D22.9 covers melanocytic nevi, unspecified; D22.0 covers melanocytic nevi of the lip. The D22 category covers benign melanocytic nevi (moles) with site-specific subcategories. The trunk site designation (D22.5) is required when the lesion is on the torso. Intradermal nevus is classified as a benign melanocytic nevus.

Question 12

A physician destroys 20 benign warts in a single session using cryotherapy. Which CPT® code covers destruction of 15 or more benign lesions in one session?

  1. 17110
  2. 17000
  3. 17003
  4. 17111 (correct answer)
Explanation: CPT® 17111 covers destruction of benign lesions, 15 or more lesions, in a single session. Code 17110 covers 1-14 benign lesions; 17000 covers the first premalignant actinic keratosis; 17003 is the add-on for each additional actinic keratosis. At 15 or more benign lesions, 17111 replaces 17110 and covers the entire session as a single code. The benign lesion threshold (17110 vs. 17111) mirrors the actinic keratosis threshold (17000/17003 vs. 17004).

Question 13

A surgeon performs excision of a benign lesion of the face measuring 0.7 cm excised diameter. Which CPT® code covers benign lesion excision on the face with excised diameter 0.6-1.0 cm?

  1. 11400
  2. 11440
  3. 11441 (correct answer)
  4. 11420
Explanation: CPT® 11441 covers excision of benign lesion, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips, and/or mucous membranes, excised diameter 0.6-1.0 cm. Code 11440 covers face/ears/eyelids/nose/lips, 0.5 cm or less; 11400 covers trunk/arms/legs, 0.5 cm or less; 11420 covers scalp/neck/hands/feet/genitalia, 0.5 cm or less. A 0.7 cm facial lesion falls in the 0.6-1.0 cm range of the facial grouping, making 11441 the correct code.

Question 14

A dermatologist destroys 20 actinic keratoses in a single session using cryotherapy. Which CPT® code(s) are reported?

  1. 17000 × 20
  2. 17000, 17003 × 19
  3. 17000, 17003 × 13, 17004
  4. 17004 (correct answer)
Explanation: CPT® 17004 covers destruction of premalignant lesions, including actinic keratoses, 15 or more lesions in a single session. When 15 or more actinic keratoses are destroyed, 17004 is reported alone — it is not used in combination with 17000 and 17003. For 14 or fewer lesions, 17000 (first lesion) and 17003 (each additional through the 14th) are used. At 15 or more, 17004 replaces both prior codes and covers the entire session as a single unit.

Question 15

A dermatologist performs a shave removal of a 0.6 cm raised benign lesion from the trunk using a scalpel blade. Which CPT® code covers shave removal of a trunk lesion 0.6-1.0 cm in diameter?

  1. 11300
  2. 11302
  3. 11303
  4. 11301 (correct answer)
Explanation: CPT® 11301 covers shave removal of epidermal or dermal lesion, single lesion, trunk, arms, or legs, lesion diameter 0.6-1.0 cm. Code 11300 covers 0.5 cm or less; 11302 covers 1.1-2.0 cm; 11303 covers over 2.0 cm. Shave removal codes are based on anatomical site and lesion diameter (not excised diameter, since no formal margin is taken). The trunk/arm/leg grouping uses 11300-11303.

Question 16

A surgeon excises a benign lesion from the arm and repairs the wound with a simple single-layer closure. How is the simple closure reported?

  1. It is included in the benign lesion excision code and not reported separately (correct answer)
  2. It is reported separately with the appropriate simple repair code
  3. It is reported with modifier -51 on the closure code
  4. It is reported only when the closure requires more than 3 sutures
Explanation: CPT® excision code descriptors include simple wound closure as an integral component of the excision service. Simple (single-layer) wound closure following benign or malignant lesion excision is not separately reportable. Intermediate or complex closure, however, is separately reportable in addition to the excision code. This is one of the most commonly tested bundling rules in the integumentary section.

Question 17

A surgeon excises a 1.5 cm malignant lesion from the lower eyelid with a 0.2 cm margin, yielding a 1.9 cm excised diameter. Which CPT® code covers malignant lesion excision on the eyelids with excised diameter 1.1–2.0 cm?

  1. 11641 (correct answer)
  2. 11640
  3. 11642
  4. 11643
Explanation: CPT® 11641 covers excision of malignant lesion, face, ears, eyelids, nose, and/or lips, excised diameter 1.1–2.0 cm. The lower eyelid falls in the facial anatomical grouping. The excised diameter of 1.9 cm falls in the 1.1–2.0 cm range, making 11641 the correct code. Code 11640 covers 0.5 cm or less; 11642 covers 2.1–3.0 cm; 11643 covers 3.1–4.0 cm.

Question 18

A dermatologist performs Mohs micrographic surgery on a basal cell carcinoma of the nose, requiring 3 stages to achieve clear margins, with 5 tissue blocks in the first stage. Which CPT® code covers the first Mohs stage on the head, neck, hands, feet, or genitalia?

  1. 17311 (correct answer)
  2. 17312
  3. 17313
  4. 17314
Explanation: CPT® 17311 covers Mohs micrographic surgery, first stage, up to 5 tissue blocks, head, neck, hands, feet, genitalia, or any location with surgery directly involving muscle, cartilage, bone, tendon, major nerve(s), or vessel(s). Add-on code 17312 covers each additional stage for the same anatomical sites. Code 17313 covers the first stage of Mohs on the trunk, arms, or legs; 17314 is the add-on for additional stages at those sites. The nose falls in the head/neck grouping, making 17311 correct for the first stage.

Question 19

A surgeon performs a wide excision of a complex pilonidal cyst requiring a rotation flap for closure. Which CPT® code covers excision of pilonidal cyst with complicated primary closure?

  1. 11770
  2. 11771
  3. 11772 (correct answer)
  4. 10081
Explanation: CPT® 11772 covers excision of pilonidal cyst or sinus with complicated primary closure — including cases requiring flaps, skin grafts, or other complex closure techniques. Code 11770 covers simple excision; 11771 covers excision with extensive primary closure (extensive undermining and layered closure, but without flap or graft); 10081 covers incision and drainage of pilonidal cyst, complicated. The use of a rotation flap for closure places this procedure in the complicated category (11772).

Question 20

A surgeon performs a wide excision of a primary malignant melanoma of the back with 2 cm margins. The total excised diameter is 5.5 cm. Which CPT® code covers malignant lesion excision on the trunk with excised diameter over 4.0 cm?

  1. 11604
  2. 11605
  3. 11646
  4. 11606 (correct answer)
Explanation: CPT® 11606 covers excision of malignant lesion, trunk, arms, and/or legs, excised diameter over 4.0 cm. Code 11604 covers 3.1–4.0 cm; 11605 covers 4.1–5.0 cm on the trunk — wait, the trunk malignant excision series (11600–11606) uses 11606 for over 4.0 cm, not 11605. Code 11646 is for face/ears/eyelids/nose/lips over 4.0 cm. For a 5.5 cm excised diameter on the trunk, 11606 is the correct code.