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Wiki Right, Left, Unspecified
- Thread starter bbooks
- Start date
mitchellde
True Blue
The number 1 is mostly the right side and the number 2 is mostly the left side. The unspecified is different but then it really does not matter because you will not be using it. When there is more than one choice in a category like dominance then it usually has the patter of right then left then right then left again.. Such as right side dominate is 1 left side dominate is 2 then right side non dominate is 3 and left side dominate is 4. Is not 100% but it is consistent enough to be cool!
When coding skin lesions, it varies.
For example:
C44- Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin,
1 = unspec, 2 = right, 9 = left
D22- Melanocytic nevi
0 = unspec, 1 = right, 2 = left
I code pathology, and a lot of derm cases, so it's just odd (and frustrating) that the numbers for laterality wouldn't be consistent.
Also, I cannot say I would never use an unspecified location code, because, although rare, sometimes we are not given that information. Thus the need to still have unspecified codes.
For example:
C44- Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin,
1 = unspec, 2 = right, 9 = left
D22- Melanocytic nevi
0 = unspec, 1 = right, 2 = left
I code pathology, and a lot of derm cases, so it's just odd (and frustrating) that the numbers for laterality wouldn't be consistent.
Also, I cannot say I would never use an unspecified location code, because, although rare, sometimes we are not given that information. Thus the need to still have unspecified codes.
mitchellde
True Blue
Yes I know.. It is consistent until it isn't. I think someone came to work on a Moday after a hard weekend and just was not not paying attention!