Wiki Coding CA of bladder

[sarah.medicalcoder]

Pt has a h/o of bladder cancer, pt has a cysto and they remove a tumor in the bladder. The pathology comes back as ca. Would I code it as the the primary site or secondary? Im used to thinking that when it has metastasized to a different site then it would be secondary but this falls in the same area.


Please help!

 

[caromissunc1]

When it falls in the same area and is a recurrence, I code it out as primary. Unless it is stipulated on the path report or doc's notes that it is a metastasis.