Reader Question:
233.0 Represents Lobular Carcinoma
Published on Tue Jun 12, 2012
Question: How should I report noninfiltrating lobular carcinoma?Connecticut SubscriberAnswer: The ICD-9-CM index points you to either the in situ code for the specified site or 233.0 (Carcinoma in situ of breast) if the site is unspecified. A breast lobule is a gland that produces milk. The term "carcinoma in situ" refers to tumor cells undergoing malignant changes but not invading the surrounding tissue. Your oncologist may also refer to these as intraepithelial, noninvasive, or preinvasive carcinoma, but ask the physician to specify "in situ" when that is the appropriate diagnosis. Other conditions may be non-infiltrating, and you don't want to make an assumption that leads to reporting the wrong diagnosis.