ICD 10 Coding Alert

Question:Our pathologists examine lots of breast cases, so we're trying to prepare for diagnosis coding changes when ICD-10 takes effect, especially for malignancies. What differences should we expect? Virginia Subscriber Answer: Using ICD-9, your coding options for primary breast neoplasms differ based on sex. For female patients you use 174.x (Malignant neoplasm of female breast), and your fourth digit options relate to anatomic location: 174.0 -- ... nipple and areola 174.1 -- ... central portion 174.2 -- ... upper-inner quadrant 174.3 -- ... lower-inner quadrant 174.4 -- ... upper-outer quadrant 174.5 -- ... lower-outer quadrant 174.6 -- ... axillary tail 174.8 -- ... other specified sites of female breast 174.9 -- ... breast (female), unspecified. For male patients, you use 175.x (Male neoplasm of male breast). The fourth digit again relates to anatomic site, but the list is much shorter: 175.0 -- ... nipple and areola 175.9 -- ... other and unspecified sites of male breast. ICD-9 instructions for both 174.x and 175.x [...]