Shaving of a 3 cm dermal lesion on the forehead would be reported with code ______.

The appropriate code for the shaving of a 3 cm dermal lesion on the forehead is 11313. This code is specifically used for the excision of skin lesions that are located on the face, ears, eyelids, scalp, neck, hands, feet, and genitalia, with a diameter that is greater than 2.1 cm but up to 4.0 cm.

In this context, the 3 cm lesion fits perfectly within the parameters outlined for code 11313. It is essential to reference the coding guidelines; in the case of skin lesion excisions, the size includes the entire excised area, not just the lesion itself. Since the lesion exceeds 2.1 cm, this code is applicable and captures the procedure accurately.

The other codes listed pertain to different sizes of lesions or areas of excision. For instance, code 11312 pertains to lesions between 1.1 cm and 2.1 cm, while 11314 is for lesions over 4.0 cm. Therefore, both of these would not correctly represent the 3 cm lesion being treated. Code 11315, on the other hand, refers to a higher size threshold and does not apply here. Thus, the most