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Oncology & Hematology Coding Alert

You Be the Coder:

Double Check Coding for Left and Right Lung

Published on Fri Apr 13, 2012

Question: If the physician documents that the patient has a primary neoplasm of the right lower lobe with metastasis to the left lung. Do both the left and right lungs fall under the primary code? Or should we report both a primary code and a secondary code?Texas SubscriberAnswer: When the oncologist documents a primary right lower lobe neoplasm with metastasis to the left lung, you should report: Right lobe: 162.5, Malignant neoplasm of lower lobe bronchus or lungLeft lung: 197.0, Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung.Support: ICD-9 Coding Clinic (2010, vol. 27, no. 3) addressed a similar question in which the patient had been diagnosed with cancer of the left lower lobe and metastasis to the right lung, peritoneum, and liver. Coding Clinic stated proper coding would include 162.5 (lung primary), 197.0 (lung secondary), 197.6 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum), and 197.7 (Malignant neoplasm of liver secondary).Caution: Don't assume [...]
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