Find comprehensive information on Breast Carcinoma, also known as Breast Cancer or Mammary Carcinoma, for accurate clinical documentation and medical coding. This resource covers diagnosis, staging, treatment, and healthcare guidelines related to carcinoma of the breast. Learn about relevant medical coding terms and best practices for documenting Breast Cancer in electronic health records.
Also known as
Malignant neoplasm of breast
Covers all malignant tumors of the breast.
Personal history of malignant neoplasm of breast
Indicates a past diagnosis of breast cancer.
Secondary malignant neoplasm of breast
Cancer that has spread to the breast from another site.
Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes
Includes breast cancer spread to lymph nodes, if not specified elsewhere.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the breast carcinoma in situ?
Yes
Is it ductal carcinoma in situ?
No
Is it invasive?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Malignant tumor of breast tissue. |
| Abnormal breast cell growth, not yet cancerous. |
| Benign breast tumor, not cancerous. |
Failing to document left, right, or bilateral breast involvement can lead to inaccurate coding and reimbursement issues.
Incomplete documentation of histology type (e.g., ductal, lobular) may impact accurate staging and treatment planning.
Miscoding in situ versus invasive carcinoma can significantly affect treatment and prognosis reporting, leading to quality metrics inaccuracies.
Q: What are the most effective current guidelines for breast carcinoma staging and how do they inform treatment decisions for different stages of mammary carcinoma?
A: Current breast carcinoma staging relies primarily on the TNM system (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) as outlined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). This system considers tumor size (T), lymph node involvement (N), and the presence of distant metastasis (M) to assign a stage from I to IV. Accurate staging is crucial as it directly informs treatment strategies. For instance, early-stage breast cancer (Stages I and II) may be treated with surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy) followed by adjuvant therapy like radiation, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy. Locally advanced breast cancer (Stage III) often involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation. Stage IV (metastatic breast cancer) requires systemic therapies like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy to control disease progression. Explore how the latest AJCC guidelines detail specific TNM classifications and their corresponding treatment recommendations for optimal patient management. Consider implementing molecular subtyping (ER, PR, HER2) to further refine treatment strategies within each stage.
Q: How can clinicians differentiate between invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, and other less common breast cancer subtypes based on histopathological features and immunohistochemical markers, and what are the implications for prognosis and targeted therapy selection?
A: Differentiating breast cancer subtypes requires careful histopathological examination and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), the most common subtype, typically presents as solid masses with glandular differentiation and may exhibit desmoplasia. IHC markers like ER, PR, and HER2 can inform prognosis and guide treatment decisions. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) often appears as single-file infiltrating cells with less distinct cell borders. ILC is more likely to be ER-positive and HER2-negative than IDC. Less common subtypes, such as mucinous, medullary, and tubular carcinomas, have distinctive histopathological features and differing prognoses. Accurate subtyping is vital for selecting appropriate targeted therapies. For example, HER2-positive breast cancers benefit from HER2-targeted therapies like trastuzumab, while hormone receptor-positive tumors respond to endocrine therapies. Learn more about the specific histopathological and IHC characteristics of each subtype to enhance diagnostic accuracy and personalize treatment plans. Consider implementing gene expression profiling for further refinement of molecular subtypes and identification of potential therapeutic targets.
Patient presents with concerns regarding breast cancer. Chief complaint includes [insert specific chief complaint, e.g., palpable lump, nipple discharge, skin changes]. Review of systems reveals [list pertinent positives and negatives, e.g., fatigue, weight loss, bone pain]. Past medical history includes [list relevant medical history, e.g., family history of breast cancer, BRCA mutation, prior breast biopsies]. Physical examination reveals [detailed breast exam findings, including location, size, texture, mobility of any palpable masses; nipple characteristics; skin changes; axillary lymphadenopathy]. Diagnostic imaging including [specify imaging modality, e.g., mammogram, ultrasound, MRI] demonstrates [describe imaging findings, e.g., mass characteristics, BIRADS classification]. Biopsy performed on [date] revealed invasive ductal carcinoma, [specify histological subtype, e.g., not otherwise specified, lobular, medullary] grade [grade 1-3], with [mention ER, PR, and HER2 receptor status]. Staging workup including [mention staging procedures, e.g., chest X-ray, CT scan, bone scan] is [pending or completed, with results]. Diagnosis of breast carcinoma is confirmed. Treatment plan discussed with patient includes options such as [list treatment options, e.g., surgery lumpectomy mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy]. Patient education provided regarding breast cancer treatment, prognosis, and follow-up care. Patient understands the risks and benefits of the proposed treatment plan and has consented to proceed with [specified treatment]. Referral to [relevant specialists, e.g., medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist] scheduled. Follow-up appointment scheduled in [timeframe] to reassess and monitor treatment response.