Biopsy CPT Coding Guideline

Post Last Updated on 21 Feb 2026

What is Biopsy?

Biopsy is the taking of small sample tissue to identify the behaviour of that tissue , so physician can perform the treatment based on findings.

For Integumentary system, Biopsy is the full thickness sampling of the tissue.

What are the medical necessity of Skin Excision Surgery?

• To identify the nature of lesion like mass, bump, necrosis or any other abnormality.

  
  

Skin Biopsy CPT Coding Guideline

CPT code range for Biopsy

11102 : Tangential biopsy of skin (eg, shave, scoop, saucerize, curette); single lesion

11103 : Tangential biopsy of skin (eg, shave, scoop, saucerize, curette); each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

11104 : Punch biopsy of skin (including simple closure, when performed); single lesion

11105 : Punch biopsy of skin (including simple closure, when performed); each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

11106 : Incisional biopsy of skin (eg, wedge) (including simple closure, when performed); single lesion

11107 : Incisional biopsy of skin (eg, wedge) (including simple closure, when performed); each separate/additional lesion (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure)

CPT Code selection Criteria for Biopsy procedure

1. The code selection is based on the depth of the biopsy taken.

2. Code selection is based on number of lesion biopsy.

3. The technique used to excision like punch tool or saucerize.

Additional Knowldege :

The punch and incisional biopsy involve removing a full-thickness skin sample. 

However, the tangential biopsy involves a superficial skin sample and does not involve a full-thickness removal of the dermis.

Coding guideline for Biopsy of Skin

1. Hieracchary of giving Primary CPT code , if multiple method of biopsy is performed 

   Incisional >> Punch >> Tangential

2. When multiple biopsy techniques are performed during the same encounter, only one primary lesion biopsy code (11102, 11104, 11106) is reported. Additional biopsy codes that is additional code should be assigned based on the coding conventions.

3. If multiple biopsies of the same type are performed, the primary code for that biopsy should be used along with the corresponding add-on code.

Notes: Simple Closure is inclusive in Punch Biopsy and Incisional Biopsy.

Scenario Question

A 60-year-old patient presents with multiple suspicious skin lesions. The physician performs the following procedures during the same encounter:

1. Right cheek – Tangential (shave) biopsy

2. Left forearm – Tangential (shave) biopsy

3. Upper back – Punch biopsy using a 5 mm punch tool

4. Right thigh – Punch biopsy

5. Left calf – Incisional biopsy using a scalpel

All specimens are sent separately to pathology.Hemostasis is achieved with pressure and simple bandaging only.No layered closure is performed.

What CPT code(s) should be reported?

Answer : In our report , all method of biopsy are performed, so code based on Hieracchary of primary Code, So incisional primary code will code for other only add on code.

So, the correct CPT code will be

11106

11105

11105

11103

11013

3M Code Leading for Biopsy