Understanding lymph node swelling diagnosis? Find information on lymphadenopathy, swollen glands, enlarged lymph nodes, and their causes. Learn about clinical documentation, medical coding (ICD-10 codes for lymphadenopathy), differential diagnosis, and healthcare guidelines for evaluating and managing lymph node enlargement. Explore resources for patients and healthcare professionals concerning localized lymphadenopathy, generalized lymphadenopathy, and the importance of proper medical examination.
Also known as
Localized swelling, mass and lump
Covers localized swellings, masses, and lumps, including lymph node enlargement.
Nonspecific lymphadenitis
Relates to inflammation of lymph nodes without a specific cause identified.
Localized swelling, mass and lump
Includes swelling, mass, and lump associated with the head, face and neck.
Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes
Addresses cancerous involvement of lymph nodes secondary to a primary malignancy elsewhere.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is lymphadenopathy generalized (involving multiple regions)?
Yes
Associated with infection?
No
Specific location documented?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Lymph node swelling |
| Lymphadenitis |
| Lymphadenopathy |
Coding lymph node swelling without specifying laterality (right, left, or bilateral) can lead to claim denials and inaccurate data reporting. Use R, L, or B modifiers.
Miscoding generalized lymphadenopathy as localized swelling or vice versa impacts severity reporting and reimbursement. CDI should clarify the extent.
Failing to document the underlying cause of the swelling (infection, malignancy, etc.) hinders accurate coding and case mix index calculation. Conduct thorough clinical documentation review.
Patient presents with complaint of swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy, lymphadenitis). Onset of swelling noted [duration] ago, located in the [location of nodes; e.g., cervical, axillary, inguinal] region. Patient describes the swelling as [character of swelling; e.g., painful, tender, firm, mobile, fixed, rubbery]. Associated symptoms include [list associated symptoms; e.g., fever, chills, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, upper respiratory infection symptoms, sore throat, cough]. Patient denies [list pertinent negatives; e.g., recent travel, exposure to sick individuals, known infections]. Physical examination reveals [size and characteristics of lymph nodes; e.g., palpable, non-tender, mobile, 2 cm lymph node in left cervical chain]. Surrounding skin is [description of skin; e.g., normal, erythematous, warm]. Differential diagnosis includes infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic), lymphoma, autoimmune disease, malignancy. Plan includes [diagnostic tests ordered; e.g., complete blood count (CBC) with differential, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), monospot test, lymph node biopsy, imaging studies (ultrasound, CT scan)]. Treatment plan will be determined based on diagnostic results. Patient education provided regarding potential causes of lymph node swelling, monitoring for changes in size or symptoms, and importance of follow-up. Return to clinic scheduled in [duration] for review of results and further evaluation. ICD-10 code considerations include [relevant ICD-10 codes; e.g., R59.1 (localized enlarged lymph nodes), R59.0 (generalized enlarged lymph nodes)]. CPT code considerations for procedures performed will be documented upon completion.