R010 – Wide excision of malignant melanoma
OHIP Radiology Code — INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES · Schedule of Benefits
Wide excision of a malignant melanoma in any area. The procedure must include margins greater than 1 cm and a layered closure. Assistant and Anaesthesia: - Assistant (Suffix B): Not eligible. - Anaesthesia (Suffix C): Eligible for 7 base units (:542). Billing Notes: - This code is not to be used if the excision is corrected by a flap or graft; in such cases, the appropriate repair code should be used instead (:542). - For sentinel node biopsy, refer to Z427 (:542).
When to Use
- Use R010 for the wide excision of a biopsy-proven malignant melanoma where the defect is closed primarily with a layered closure.
- Use R010 when the surgical plan dictates margins exceeding 1 cm, distinguishing it from standard excision codes for smaller or non-melanoma skin cancers.
Common Pitfalls
- Billing R010 when a flap or graft is used for closure; you must instead bill the appropriate code from the Repair Section.
- Failure to retain the pathology report in the patient's record, which triggers a mandatory payment adjustment to a lower fee.
- Attempting to bill R010 for pre-malignant lesions or lesions where the final pathology does not confirm malignancy, as this code is strictly for malignant melanoma.
Billing Tips
- If the excision is performed in a hospital setting and requires a frozen section to confirm tumour-free margins, ensure you add code E540 to receive the 25% premium.
Effective: April 1, 2026
M. Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM SURGICAL PROCEDURES
Surgical
Integumentary System Surgical Procedures
The pathologist's report must be retained in the patient's record.
Note: A pre-malignant lesion is not a malignant lesion for the purposes of payment.
Note: When excision of benign, pre-malignant or malignant lesions are corrected by advancement, rotation, transposition, Z-plasty, flap or graft, claim appropriate benefit listed under Repair Section instead of foregoing excision benefits.
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