Wiki history of skin cancer vx. malignant neoplasm

[snt314]

I have a general surgeon who destroyed (not excised) a basal cell carcinoma of the face using cryosurgery in January 2013. Then in February, he excised the lesion. In March, he saw the patient back in follow up for the skin cancer. The lesion was completely healed and looked good - per documentation. At this point, would ICD-9 code V10.83 (history of malignant neoplasm of the face) be used? Or should this visit still be coded with the malignant lesion code, 173.31? Thanks!

 

[EricaR]

Per ICD-9-CM offical Guideline: "personal history codes explain a patient's past medical condition that no longer exists and is not recieving any treatment, but that has the potential for recurrence and therefore may require continued monitoring." What you need to know to make your coding decision is if the patient is currently receiving any treatment. If not then this is a history of. If there were some sort of ongoing chemo or something then this would still be a current ca dx. 173.31.