Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Question: A patient whom our oncologist was treating has developed a partially occlusive thrombus in the tibial vein and a thrombus in the popliteal vein in the right leg. Please suggest the best diagnosis code for this condition.

Alaska Subscriber

Answer: You report ICD-9-CM code 453.41 (Acute venous embolism and thrombosis of deep vessels of proximal lower extremity) for the popliteal vein thrombosis and code 453.42 (Acute venous embolism and thrombosis of deep vessels of distal lower extremity) for the tibial vein thrombosis. There is not a combination code for these veins.

Note: You report code 453.41 for venous thrombosis and embolism of the femoral, iliac, popliteal, other thigh veins, and veins in upper leg not otherwise specified. When reporting the same condition in the peroneal, tibial, calf veins, or other veins in lower leg, you report code 453.42.