C69.52
BillableMalignant neoplasm of left lacrimal gland and duct
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 cancerous tumor of the left lacrimal gland or duct, which are structures that produce tears and drain them into the nose.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm left side is clearly documented to avoid laterality errors
- •Document any associated symptoms like dry eye, tearing, or facial swelling related to the tumor
Clinical Significance
Left lacrimal gland and duct malignancy carries the same clinical urgency as right-sided disease. Accurate laterality coding is essential for surgical approach planning and radiation field design. Lacrimal gland cancers often require multimodality treatment including surgery, radiation, and sometimes chemotherapy.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming malignancy of the lacrimal gland or duct
- ✓Documentation explicitly identifying left side involvement
- ✓Orbital imaging documenting tumor characteristics and extent
- ✓Assessment for bony erosion, perineural spread, and intracranial extension
- ✓Treatment plan and follow-up surveillance schedule
Commonly Confused Codes
C69.51 — Right lacrimal gland: verify laterality carefullyC69.62 — Left orbit: use the specific lacrimal gland code rather than general orbital codeC69.50 — Unspecified lacrimal gland: use C69.52 when left side is documentedH04.129 — Dry eye related to lacrimal gland dysfunction: benign condition, not malignancy
Code Hierarchy
└C69Malignant neoplasm of eye and adnexa└C69.5Malignant neoplasm of lacrimal gland and duct└C69.52Malignant neoplasm of left lacrimal gland and duct
└C69.52Malignant neoplasm of left lacrimal gland and duct