tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2013 Issue 8

Reader Question: PUNLMP Evades ICD-9

Question: What ICD-9 code should I use for a bladder cancer pathology report diagnosis of PUNLMP? Kansas Subscriber Answer: The condition you’re asking about is fairly newly recognized — papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential (PUNLMP). The condition is considered pre-malignant. That said, there’s not an “accepted” understanding of whether you should code this as benign, malignant, or uncertain. Because there’s not a lot of specific information available about the condition, you should fall back on basic ICD-9 coding rules. If the neoplasm hasn’t been biopsied or had any pathologic examination, then you...

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