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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

Reader Questions:

You Need More Info From Your Doctor for This Dx

Published on Fri Jan 25, 2008

Question: What is the diagnosis code for paraneoplastic syndrome? California Subscriber Answer: Unfortunately, "paraneoplastic syndrome" is not very specific. There are many paraneoplastic syndromes, just as there are many kinds of cancer. Paraneoplastic syndrome isn't cancer. It's a disease or symptom that is the consequence of cancer but is not due to the local presence of cancer cells. A paraneoplastic syndrome may be the first sign of cancer. Time for questions: You need to get more information from your physician about which syndrome he's diagnosing. Here are some possibilities, though this is by no means an exhaustive list: - Dermatomyositis (710.3) - Acanthosis nigricans (701.2) - Sweet's syndrome (695.89) - Pyoderma gangrenosum (686.01) - Encephalomyelitis; specified cause NEC (323.81) - Opsoclonia (379.59) - Polymyositis (710.4) - Myasthenia syndrome in malignant neoplasm NEC (199.1) - Hypercalcemia (275.42) - Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (253.6)
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