Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

Resolve Your ICD-9 Coding For Liver Metastasis

Question: A patient presents for chemotherapy to treat a secondary liver neoplasm that metastasized from the primary colon neoplasm. How should I report my ICD-9 codes?

Nevada Subscriber

Answer: You should describe your diagnoses by reporting the following codes in this order:

  • V58.11 (Encounter for antineoplastic chemotherapy) as primary diagnosis if the primary focus of the encounter is for chemotherapy;
  • 197.7 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive systems; liver, specified as secondary) for the site being treated (liver metastasis);
  • the appropriate 153.x-154.x code to describe your primary cancer regardless of it being treated or not.

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