CCSD code F2310 – Excision and destruction of tongue lesions

Key takeaways

CCSD code F2310 covers excision or destruction of a lesion of the tongue, in Chapter 6 of the CCSD schedule.

Excision produces a specimen for histology, while destruction ablates the lesion in place, so the note must say which method was used.

CCSD lists F3810 and F4210 as unacceptable combinations with F2310, so do not bill them for the same lesion.

Where the insurer asks for a diagnosis, use WHO ICD-10 codes such as K13.2 or D10.1, not US ICD-10-CM codes.

Each UK insurer sets its own pre-authorization rules and fees, so confirm cover with the patient’s insurer before the procedure.

CCSD code F2310 covers excision or destruction of a tongue lesion

CCSD code F2310 is the CCSD procedure code for excision/destruction of lesion of tongue.

It sits in Chapter 6 of the schedule, Face, Mouth, Salivary and Thyroid, under sub-chapter 6.5.0 Mouth cavity. You bill it when the clinician removes or ablates a pathological lesion on the tongue.

The descriptor covers two routes to the same outcome. The clinician either cuts the lesion out with a scalpel or destroys it in place. Destruction may use electrocautery, laser or cryotherapy. Both routes are billed as F2310, provided the lesion sits on the tongue.

The Clinical Coding and Schedule Development (CCSD) Group publishes the schedule used by UK private medical insurers. It sets the codes and their descriptors, while each insurer sets its own fees and rules. As a result, the same F2310 procedure can pay differently under Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva or VitalityHealth. The CCSD technical guide explains how the schedule is organized.

Descriptors can change between schedule releases. So before you bill, check the current entry in the insurer’s code search or your CCSD login.

Excision vs destruction: Why the method matters

Excision means removing the lesion surgically with a scalpel or similar instrument. It produces a tissue specimen that goes to a laboratory for histology. Destruction means ablating the lesion in place with electrocautery, laser energy or cryotherapy, so no specimen is produced.

Both methods sit under the same code, but the note has to say which one was used. Where excision was performed, the insurer may ask for the histology report during a query or clinical review. Requirements vary, so check the insurer’s guidance before you submit.

Clinical indications: When is F2310 appropriate?

F2310 fits when a pathological lesion on the tongue needs removal or ablation. The most common indications fall into three groups: Benign lesions, premalignant lesions, and inflammatory or reactive lesions.

• Benign lesions: Fibroma (traumatic fibroma is the most frequent), papilloma, mucocele, lipoma and granular cell tumor. These are usually excised and sent for histology to confirm they are benign.
• Premalignant lesions: Leukoplakia (a white patch that cannot be rubbed off), erythroplakia (a red patch) and epithelial dysplasia. These carry higher clinical urgency and always need histology when excised.
• Inflammatory or reactive lesions: Pyogenic granuloma, peripheral giant cell granuloma, and persistent ulcers that need removal or destruction after conservative care has failed.

The clinical picture decides the method. Small, benign-looking lesions may suit laser or electrocautery ablation. Any lesion where malignancy cannot be ruled out clinically should be excised and sent for histology, not destroyed.

ICD-10 codes to pair with CCSD code F2310

UK healthcare records diagnoses in the WHO edition of ICD-10. Where the insurer or claim form asks for a diagnosis, use a WHO ICD-10 code that matches the clinical note. US ICD-10-CM codes such as K13.21 and K13.29 do not exist in the WHO edition, so leave them off UK claims.

When the nature of the lesion is unclear before excision, code to the best clinical description available at the time. If the histology report changes the diagnosis, update the record and tell the insurer if the claim is still open.

Confirm the lesion’s exact site before you pick F2310

F2310 fits a lesion on the tongue. Neighboring sites in the mouth have codes of their own, and a mismatch between note and code invites a query. Two questions settle the choice, as the chart below shows.

Work through these checks before you settle on F2310.

• Is the lesion elsewhere inside the mouth? Bill it under F3810 instead.
• Is it on the palate? The palate takes F2810. Confirm the entry against the current schedule.
• Is it on the lip? The lip has its own codes, such as F0200 for excising a lip lesion.
• Was only a sample taken for diagnosis? That is a biopsy, such as F4210 for a mouth lesion. Check the schedule for the biopsy code that matches the site.

If the note leaves the site unclear, ask the clinician before you code. When none of these fit, browse our CCSD code library for a closer match.

Unbundling risk: CCSD lists F2310 as an unacceptable combination with F3810 and with F4210. In practice, do not add a mouth-lesion or mouth-biopsy code for the same lesion. When the plan from the start is complete removal, bill F2310 alone. CCSD principles are guidance, and each insurer decides whether to adopt them.

Documentation requirements for a valid F2310 claim

Insurers review records to check that the code matches the procedure performed. Thin notes are a common reason for queries and delayed payment. Digital clinical forms that capture these fields at the point of care keep the record complete.

The clinical record for every F2310 claim should include these elements:

• Date of procedure with the treating clinician’s GMC or GDC registration number
• Site and size of the lesion: Location on the tongue (dorsal, lateral, ventral or tip) and approximate dimensions
• Operative method: Whether excision or destruction was performed, plus the modality used for destruction (electrocautery, CO2 laser, diode laser or cryotherapy)
• Clinical justification: A short narrative on why the procedure was needed, such as lesion features, failed conservative care or malignancy risk
• Anesthetic used: Local anesthetic type, volume and technique, or a note that the procedure took place under general anesthetic
• Histology reference: Where excision was performed, the laboratory request number and confirmation that the specimen was sent
• Pre-authorization reference: Where the insurer issued one, the reference number that matches the procedure

The GMC and the GDC both expect clinical records to be clear, accurate and made at the time of care. That standard also protects the claim.

Pre-authorization usually comes before the procedure

Pre-authorization is the insurer’s approval before treatment goes ahead. For surgical codes such as F2310, most UK insurers expect it. A claim without a required authorization is likely to be rejected, however sound the clinical case.

Requirements vary by insurer and by policy. The table below is a starting point only, so verify each case with the insurer.

When the insurer needs a pre-authorization request, include these details:

1. The CCSD code requested (F2310) and the planned method
2. A description of the lesion: Site, size, duration, appearance and any change over time
3. The clinical justification, including why conservative care is not enough
4. The ICD-10 diagnosis code, where the insurer asks for one
5. The treating clinician’s details, including GMC or GDC number

When in doubt, treat pre-authorization as required. A call before the procedure date costs far less than an appeal afterward. Our guide to Bupa CCSD codes covers that insurer’s process in more detail.

Billing F2310 alongside other codes

Some charges sit outside F2310 and may still be billed separately, while others overlap with it. Whether a combination pays depends on CCSD’s principles and the insurer’s own rules.

Common reasons F2310 claims are rejected

Most rejections trace back to a short list of avoidable errors. Each one below comes with its fix.

Who can bill CCSD code F2310?

F2310 is performed by clinicians who treat oral lesions, such as oral and maxillofacial surgeons, ENT surgeons and dentists. In the UK, doctors register with the GMC and dentists with the GDC. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons usually hold both registrations.

Registration alone does not guarantee payment. Each insurer decides which clinicians it recognizes for which procedures, and that can vary by policy. Before billing, confirm these points:

• The insurer recognizes the treating clinician for oral surgery procedures
• The patient’s policy covers the procedure and the setting where it takes place
• The lesion falls within the clinician’s scope of practice and training

How Pabau keeps F2310 claims tidy from note to payment

Many practices still copy procedure details from the clinical note into a separate claim form. Each re-keyed field is another chance for the site, date or policy number to drift.

Pabau keeps the note, the invoice and the insurer claim on one patient record. Its claims management software pre-fills each claim with patient, treatment and insurer details. In the UK, claims then go to Healthcode electronically, without double entry.

Before a claim is sent, background checks confirm that details such as membership numbers and authorization codes are filled in. So when an insurer queries an F2310 claim, your team can see where it stands and why.

Send cleaner F2310 claims from one record

Pabau pre-fills insurer claims from the patient record and submits them to Healthcode, so your team stops re-keying details. Validation checks flag missing membership numbers and authorization codes before a claim goes out.

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Conclusion

Choosing F2310 is the easy part. The claim succeeds or fails on three details settled before billing: The site, the method and the authorization.

So build those checks into the booking and the procedure note, not the billing desk. A tongue lesion recorded clearly at the chair turns into a claim that needs no follow-up.

Book a demo to see how Pabau links the note, invoice and insurer claim, so your F2310 claims go out complete.

Continue your research

Billing Bupa patients for oral procedures? Bupa CCSD codes explains how Bupa uses the schedule and what it expects from providers.

Removing a lesion elsewhere in the mouth? CCSD code F3810: excision/destruction of lesion of mouth covers the neighboring mouth code.

Taking a sample before deciding on removal? CCSD code F4210: biopsy of lesion of mouth explains when the biopsy code applies.

Treating a lip lesion instead? CCSD code F0200: excision of lesion of lip covers the lip equivalent.

Looking for another CCSD code? The CCSD code library lists every CCSD code guide we publish.

Frequently asked questions