C50.611
BillableMalignant neoplasm of axillary tail of right female breast
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
Cancer that develops in the axillary tail (the extension of breast tissue toward the armpit) of the right female breast.
Coding Tips
- •The axillary tail is an important anatomical location as it extends into the armpit region and may involve lymph nodes
- •Verify laterality is documented as 'right' before assigning this code; left-sided tumors require C50.612
Clinical Significance
Cancer of the axillary tail of the right female breast involves the extension of breast tissue that projects toward the axilla (armpit). This anatomical location has particular clinical significance because tumors here may directly involve or be adjacent to axillary lymph nodes, potentially affecting staging and the extent of surgical dissection required.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Confirmed female patient sex
- ✓Laterality documented as right breast
- ✓Specific site identified as axillary tail (tail of Spence)
- ✓Relationship to axillary lymph nodes documented
- ✓Histological type and grade
- ✓TNM staging including lymph node status
- ✓Imaging confirming the axillary tail location versus primary axillary lymph node disease
Commonly Confused Codes
C50.411 — Upper-outer quadrant of right female breast; the axillary tail extends beyond the upper-outer quadrant into the axillaC77.3 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of axillary lymph nodes; axillary tail cancer is a primary breast cancer, not lymph node metastasisC50.811 — Overlapping sites of right female breast; use when tumor spans multiple sites, not when confined to axillary tailC50.612 — Axillary tail of left female breast; laterality error
Code Hierarchy
└C50Malignant neoplasm of breast└C50.6Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of breast└C50.61Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of breast, female└C50.611Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of right female breast
└C50.611Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of right female breast