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C78.7
ICD-10-CM
Liver Metastases

Find comprehensive information on liver metastases diagnosis, including clinical documentation, medical coding (ICD-10 C78.7, C80.0), and healthcare guidelines. Learn about symptoms, staging, treatment options, and prognosis for secondary liver cancer. Explore resources for patients, physicians, and healthcare professionals seeking accurate and up-to-date information on liver metastases management.

Also known as

Secondary liver cancer
Metastatic liver tumors
hepatic metastases
+1 more

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Cancer spread to the liver from a primary tumor elsewhere.
  • Clinical Signs : Abdominal pain, jaundice, fatigue, weight loss, hepatomegaly.
  • Common Settings : Oncology, surgery, interventional radiology, palliative care.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC C78.7 Coding
C78.7

Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver

Indicates cancer that has spread to the liver from another primary site.

C77-C79

Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined sites

Used when the specific site of a secondary metastasis is unknown but suspected.

C00-C97

Malignant neoplasms

Covers a wide range of cancers, including potential primary sites for liver metastases.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the liver metastasis primary?

  • Yes

    Coding error: Metastasis cannot be primary. Review diagnosis.

  • No

    Primary site known?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Liver Metastases
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Cholangiocarcinoma

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Liver metastases: Confirmed primary cancer site documented
  • Liver metastases: Imaging study specifics and findings
  • Liver metastases: Symptoms and impact on liver function
  • Liver metastases: Number and size of lesions documented
  • Liver metastases: Biopsy or pathology report if available

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Primary Site

    Coding liver metastases without documenting the primary cancer site leads to inaccurate coding and claims.

  • Clinical Validation Missing

    Lack of proper clinical documentation supporting the diagnosis of liver metastases can cause audit issues.

  • Laterality Not Documented

    Failing to specify laterality (right, left, or bilateral) when clinically relevant affects coding specificity and reimbursement.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Code liver mets precisely using ICD-10-CM C78.7 and site-specific codes.
  • Document mets size, number, location for accurate HCC staging & CDI.
  • Ensure pathology reports confirm mets origin for compliant billing.
  • Query physician for clarity if documentation lacks detail on mets spread.
  • Regularly audit liver mets coding for compliance & accurate reimbursement.

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • 1. Elevated LFTs ALP AST ALT ICD-10: C78.7 SNOMED: 253721007
  • 2. Abnormal liver imaging CT MRI US ICD-10: R93.2 SNOMED: 127061006
  • 3. Known primary cancer documented Review patient history Improve patient safety
  • 4. Biopsy confirmation if needed ICD-10: C80.1 SNOMED: 128876002 Ensure accurate diagnosis
  • 5. Performance status assessment ECOG Karnofsky Document for treatment planning

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Liver Metastases reimbursement hinges on accurate coding of primary and secondary malignancies (ICD-10-CM C78.7, C80.0). Impacts: Optimized coding maximizes case mix index (CMI), improves revenue cycle.
  • Quality reporting for Liver Metastases involves tracking treatment response, survival rates, and complications. Impacts: Accurate documentation supports quality metrics, influences hospital value-based purchasing (VBP).
  • Timely and specific coding for Liver Metastases procedures (e.g., radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolization) ensures appropriate APC assignment. Impacts: Prevents claim denials, optimizes hospital outpatient revenue.
  • Coding and abstracting must reflect staging (TNM) and performance status for Liver Metastases. Impacts: Accurate staging impacts MS-DRG assignment, severity level, and overall reimbursement.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes for . Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code primary malignancy site
  • Document mets confirmation method
  • Use C78.7 for unspecified liver mets
  • C80.1 for peritoneal mets extension
  • Distinguish mets vs. primary liver cancer

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with suspected liver metastases.  Clinical presentation includes (patient-specific symptoms e.g., abdominal pain, right upper quadrant discomfort, fatigue, weight loss, jaundice, hepatomegaly).  Relevant medical history includes (primary cancer diagnosis e.g., colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer) diagnosed on (date).  Physical examination reveals (relevant findings e.g., palpable liver mass, ascites).  Laboratory findings show (relevant abnormalities e.g., elevated liver function tests, elevated tumor markers such as CEA, CA 19-9, AFP).  Imaging studies including (CT abdomen, MRI abdomen, PET scan) demonstrate multiple hepatic lesions consistent with metastatic disease.  Diagnosis of liver metastases secondary to (primary cancer) is confirmed.  The patient was counseled on prognosis and treatment options, including (systemic chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hepatic arterial infusion therapy, radioembolization, surgical resection if applicable, palliative care).  Treatment plan will be individualized based on the patient's performance status, extent of disease, and primary tumor type.  Referral to (oncology, hepatology, palliative care, surgery) is made.  Follow-up scheduled in ( timeframe) to monitor treatment response and manage potential complications such as liver failure, portal hypertension, and ascites.
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