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ICD-10 Coding for Liver Metastases(C78.7)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Liver Metastases. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Secondary liver cancerMetastatic liver tumorshepatic metastasesmetastatic liver cancer

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Liver Metastases

C78-C79Primary Range

Secondary malignant neoplasms

This range includes codes for secondary malignant neoplasms, including liver metastases.

Malignant neoplasms of liver and intrahepatic bile ducts

This range includes primary liver cancers, which must be differentiated from liver metastases.

Key Information: How do you code liver metastases?

Essential facts and insights about Liver Metastases

Code liver metastases with C78.7, ensuring the primary cancer site is coded first if known. If the primary site is unknown, use C80.1.

Primary ICD-10-CM Code for liver mets

Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

clinical Criteria

  • Imaging and biopsy confirm metastases from a known primary site.

Applicable To

  • Metastatic tumors in the liver

Excludes

  • Primary liver cancer (C22.0)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Imaging confirming liver lesions
  • Biopsy results matching primary tumor histology

Code-Specific Risks

  • Misclassification as primary liver cancer

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies 'metastatic' to avoid confusion with primary liver cancer.

Ancillary Codes

Additional codes that should be used in conjunction with the main diagnosis codes when applicable.

Malignant (primary) neoplasm, unspecified

C80.1
Use when the primary site of cancer is unknown.

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions to the primary diagnosis.

Liver cell carcinoma

C22.0
Primary liver cancer with vascular invasion; not metastatic.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Liver Metastases to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code C78.7.

Impact

Clinical: Misdiagnosis risk, Regulatory: Non-compliance with coding standards, Financial: Potential claim denials

Mitigation Strategy

Use specific terms like 'metastatic' and 'primary site'.

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding can lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with ICD-10 coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate cancer registry data.

Mitigation Strategy

Use C78.7 for liver metastases and code the primary site if known.

Impact

Primary site not coded first when known.

Mitigation Strategy

Educate coders on sequencing rules.

Documentation errors, coding pitfalls, and audit risks are interconnected aspects of medical coding and billing. Addressing all three areas helps ensure accurate coding, optimal reimbursement, and regulatory compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ICD-10 coding for Liver Metastases, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Liver Metastases

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Liver Metastases. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Metastatic liver cancer with known primary

Specialty: Oncology

Required Elements

  • Primary cancer site
  • Imaging findings
  • Biopsy results

Example Documentation

CT scan shows multiple liver lesions. Biopsy confirms metastatic adenocarcinoma consistent with primary colon cancer.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Liver cancer
Good Documentation Example
Metastatic adenocarcinoma to liver, primary colon cancer confirmed by biopsy.
Explanation
Specifies metastatic nature and primary site, ensuring accurate coding.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Liver Metastases? Ask your questions below.

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