Pilonidal Cyst

A pilonidal cyst is a sac under the skin at the base of the spine that can become infected.  When this happens, the physician will use a scalpel to excise all of the adjacent tissue.  The code selection is based on whether the excision of the cyst is simple, extensive, or complicated.  A simple excision (11770) would be closed in only one layer.  If several layers of closure are required and the documentation indicates extensive or complicated code selection would be directed to 11772.