C49.20

Billable

Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of unspecified lower limb, including hip

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 21 — Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors

0.545

V24HCC 10 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.675

ESRDHCC 10 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.000

RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.000

What This Code Means

A malignant (cancerous) tumor in the soft tissues or connective tissues of a lower leg or hip when it is unclear whether it is on the right or left side.

Coding Tips

•Use this code only when laterality (right vs. left) is not documented; if documented, use C49.21 (right) or C49.22 (left)
•This code includes soft tissue sarcomas of the hip, thigh, knee, and lower leg

Clinical Significance

Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of the lower limb (including hip) without laterality. Lower extremity sarcomas are the most common extremity sarcomas and include deep-seated tumors of the thigh (the single most common site for soft tissue sarcomas). Laterality should be queried.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology confirming malignant soft tissue neoplasm
✓Laterality (right or left) — query if not documented
✓Specific location (thigh, leg, foot, hip region)
✓Histological subtype, tumor grade, and depth (superficial versus deep to fascia)
✓Imaging documenting tumor size and relationship to neurovascular structures

Commonly Confused Codes

C49.21/C49.22 (Right/left lower limb) — use when laterality is known C47.20 (Peripheral nerve of unspecified lower limb) — nerve sheath tumors, not general soft tissue C40.20 (Malignant neoplasm of long bones of unspecified lower limb) — bone tumors D21.20 (Benign neoplasm of connective/soft tissue of unspecified lower limb) — benign