Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-positive, in remission

This code signifies a diagnosis of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is positive for anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement, and the disease is currently in a state of remission. ALK-positive ALCL is a distinct subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by the presence of the ALK fusion protein. Remission indicates that the signs and symptoms of the cancer have significantly decreased or disappeared following treatment.

This code is appropriate when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma and confirms that the patient is currently in remission. This typically follows successful completion of chemotherapy or other definitive treatments. Supporting documentation would include pathology reports confirming ALK positivity and physician notes indicating the current disease status as "in remission."

• Ensure documentation clearly specifies "ALK-positive" as there are also ALK-negative ALCL subtypes.
• Distinguish from active disease or relapse; this code is specifically for remission.
• Always sequence this code after any codes for the history of the malignancy if the patient is still receiving surveillance or follow-up care related to the lymphoma.