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ICD-10 Coding for Right Breast Cancer(C50.911, C50.411)

Complete ICD-10-CM coding and documentation guide for Right Breast Cancer. Includes clinical validation requirements, documentation requirements, and coding pitfalls.

Also known as:

Right-sided Breast CancerCancer of Right Breastright breast malignancyright breast carcinoma

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Right Breast Cancer

C50.0-C50.9Primary Range

Malignant neoplasm of breast

This range includes all codes for malignant neoplasms of the breast, specifying laterality and site.

Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

CodeDescriptionWhen to UseKey Documentation
C50.911Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breastUse when the specific site within the right breast is not documented.
  • Biopsy confirming malignancy
  • Imaging reports specifying right breast involvement
C50.411Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of right female breastUse when the malignancy is documented in the upper-outer quadrant of the right breast.
  • Biopsy confirming malignancy in the upper-outer quadrant
  • Imaging reports specifying tumor location

Clinical Decision Support

Always review the patient's clinical documentation thoroughly. When in doubt, choose the more specific code and ensure documentation supports it.

Key Information: ICD-10 code for right breast cancer

Essential facts and insights about Right Breast Cancer

The ICD-10 code for unspecified site of right breast cancer is C50.911. For specific sites, use codes like C50.411 for the upper-outer quadrant.

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes for right breast cancer

Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast
Billable Code

Decision Criteria

documentation Criteria

  • Documentation lacks specific site within the right breast.

Applicable To

  • Right breast cancer, site unspecified

Excludes

  • Benign neoplasm of breast (D24.-)
  • Carcinoma in situ of breast (D05.-)

Clinical Validation Requirements

  • Biopsy confirming malignancy
  • Imaging reports specifying right breast involvement

Code-Specific Risks

  • Risk of under-coding if specific site is known but not documented

Coding Notes

  • Ensure documentation specifies laterality and site to avoid unspecified coding.

Ancillary Codes

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

Estrogen receptor positive status

Z17.0
Use to indicate ER status when known.

Differential Codes

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

Malignant neoplasm of nipple and areola of right breast

C50.011
Use when malignancy is specifically in the nipple or areola.

Malignant neoplasm of unspecified site of right female breast

C50.911
Use C50.411 when the specific quadrant is documented.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common documentation and coding issues when documenting Right Breast Cancer to ensure proper reimbursement, maintain compliance, and reduce audit risk. These guidelines are particularly important when using ICD-10 code C50.911.

Impact

Clinical: May lead to inappropriate treatment planning., Regulatory: Non-compliance with documentation standards., Financial: Potential for claim denials or reduced reimbursement.

Mitigation Strategy

Use standardized templates for documentation, Regular training on documentation requirements

Impact

Reimbursement: Incorrect coding may lead to denied claims., Compliance: Non-compliance with coding guidelines., Data Quality: Inaccurate clinical data reporting.

Mitigation Strategy

Verify malignancy through biopsy before coding.

Impact

High audit risk when using unspecified codes without supporting documentation.

Mitigation Strategy

Ensure documentation specifies the site and laterality of the tumor.

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 Right Breast Cancer, with expert answers to help guide accurate code selection and documentation.

Documentation Templates for Right Breast Cancer

Use these documentation templates to ensure complete and accurate documentation for Right Breast Cancer. These templates include all required elements for proper coding and billing.

Partial Mastectomy for Right Breast Cancer

Specialty: Surgical Oncology

Required Elements

  • Indication for surgery
  • Tumor size and location
  • Surgical procedure details
  • Pathology findings

Example Documentation

Indication: Treatment of invasive carcinoma in the upper-outer quadrant of right breast (C50.411). Findings: Tumor size 2.2 cm, sentinel nodes 0/2 positive.

Examples: Poor vs. Good Documentation

Poor Documentation Example
Excised right breast mass.
Good Documentation Example
Partial mastectomy of upper-outer quadrant right breast (C50.411); tumor bed marked with clips.
Explanation
The good example specifies the quadrant and procedure details, ensuring accurate coding.

Need help with ICD-10 coding for Right Breast Cancer? Ask your questions below.

Ask about any ICD-10 CM code, or paste a medical note

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