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Axillary Lump ICD-10 Coding
Question:
What are your recommendations when coding axillary lumps when the breast is also imaged? Should the breast axillary tail lump codes N63.3- be used or upper extremity lump codes R22.3- be used? How do we know if a lump is specifically in the "axillary tail" versus truly in the axilla when typically the only indication is "axillary lump"?
Would maybe a good rule of thumb be to use the breast axillary tail lump if study performed is a breast ultrasound (which includes the axilla when imaged) and to use the upper extremity lump codes if only the axilla is ultrasounded to match the upper extremity ultrasound code for an axilla-only ultrasound?
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