tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2006 Issue 4

You Be the Coder: What Are the Rules for Neoplasm Dx?

Question: When diagnosing neoplasms, how should I choose from among the various categories (primary malignant, secondary malignant, etc.)? What's the difference between -uncertain- and -unspecified-?California SubscriberAnswer: ICD-9 divides neoplasms into two main categories: malignant (cancerous) and benign (non-cancerous). Within each main category, there are subclassifications.A primary malignancy is one arising from the cells found where the surgeon biopsied the neoplasm.A secondary neoplasm is the result of metastasis and forms a new focus of malignancy elsewhere, such as the lymph nodes, liver, lungs or brain, or when the primary cancer has invaded adjacent structures.In situ...

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