C43.122
BillableMalignant melanoma of left lower eyelid, including canthus
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 23 — Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers
0.251V24HCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.150ESRDHCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.000RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
A type of skin cancer (melanoma) that starts in the left lower eyelid, including the corner of the eye where the eyelids meet.
Coding Tips
- •Verify documentation specifies left lower eyelid location to ensure correct code selection
- •Distinguish between upper (C43.121) and lower eyelid locations as they have different codes
Clinical Significance
Malignant melanoma of the left lower eyelid, including the canthus. This code represents the maximum level of specificity for this anatomic site. Lower eyelid melanomas require careful attention to reconstructive technique to maintain eyelid function, tear drainage, and cosmesis after adequate surgical excision.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Left side and lower eyelid explicitly documented
- ✓Breslow depth and Clark level of invasion
- ✓Ulceration and mitotic rate
- ✓Lacrimal system involvement
- ✓Sentinel lymph node biopsy results
- ✓AJCC staging and treatment plan
Commonly Confused Codes
C43.121 — Melanoma of left UPPER eyelid; upper vs. lower distinctionC43.112 — Melanoma of RIGHT lower eyelid; laterality differentiationC43.10 — Melanoma of UNSPECIFIED eyelid; avoid when left lower is documentedC44.122 — Other skin cancer of left lower eyelid; for basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma
Code Hierarchy
└C43Malignant melanoma of skin└C43.1Malignant melanoma of eyelid, including canthus└C43.12Malignant melanoma of left eyelid, including canthus└C43.122Malignant melanoma of left lower eyelid, including canthus
└C43.122Malignant melanoma of left lower eyelid, including canthus