Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert
Face Up to This Code Choice for Merkel Cell Dx
Question: What is the correct code for Merkel cell carcinoma that is only found on the patient’s scalp? Because the descriptor for C4A.4 states that is for the “scalp and neck,” would it be more correct to use C4A.39? Colorado Subscriber Answer: In this situation, using C4A.39 (Merkel cell carcinoma of other parts of face) would not be correct. The scalp is not considered to be a part of the face; rather, the scalp begins on the upper edges of the forehead where the hairline begins. In fact, the ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entry for Carcinoma, Merkel cell, scalp directs you to use C4A.4 (Merkel cell carcinoma of scalp and neck) even though the code also mentions the neck. The code is correct in this situation as, per ICD-10-CM guideline I.A.14, “the word ‘and’ should be interpreted to mean either ‘and’ or ‘or’ when it appears in a title.”
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Face Up to This Code Choice for Merkel Cell Dx
Question: What is the correct code for Merkel cell carcinoma that is only found on the [...]
