Sec and unsp malig neoplasm of nodes of head, face and neck

This code signifies the presence of a metastatic cancerous tumor within the lymph nodes located in the head, face, or neck region. It indicates that the primary cancer originated elsewhere in the body and has spread to these specific lymph nodes. The "unspecified" aspect means the exact primary site of the cancer is unknown or not documented.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a secondary (metastatic) malignant neoplasm affecting the lymph nodes of the head, face, or neck. This is appropriate when the primary site is either known but coded separately, or when the primary site is unknown. Supporting documentation includes pathology reports confirming metastatic disease in these lymph nodes, or physician notes explicitly stating secondary malignancy of head/neck lymph nodes.

• Always sequence the primary malignant neoplasm code before this secondary site code, if the primary site is known.
• Do not use this code if the primary malignancy originated in the head, face, or neck; in such cases, the lymph node involvement would be coded as regional spread of the primary.
• Distinguish carefully between primary lymph node cancers (e.g., lymphoma) and metastatic involvement of lymph nodes from another primary site.