C95.02

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

An acute leukemia of unknown cell type that has returned after a period of remission.

Coding Tips

• •Relapse indicates recurrence after achieving remission; ensure documentation clearly states the patient was previously in remission
• •Distinguish from C95.00 (no remission achieved) and C95.01 (in remission)

Clinical Significance

Acute leukemia of unspecified cell type in relapse indicates recurrence of an acute leukemia whose cell lineage was never definitively determined. This presents a compounded clinical challenge: both the relapsed nature and the uncharacterized lineage complicate salvage therapy selection and prognostication.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Documentation must confirm prior remission followed by relapse, including bone marrow or peripheral blood evidence of recurrent blasts.
• ✓At relapse, repeat comprehensive phenotyping and genotyping should be performed and documented, as lineage characterization at relapse may finally enable specific classification.

Commonly Confused Codes