Encntr screen for malignant neoplasm of nervous system

This code signifies a patient encounter specifically for the purpose of screening for the presence of a malignant neoplasm (cancer) within the nervous system. This includes the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, and other peripheral nerves. The encounter is preventative, occurring when there are no current signs or symptoms of the disease.

Use this code when a patient presents for a routine or targeted screening for nervous system cancer due to risk factors, family history, or participation in a screening program, and no suspicious findings are yet identified. This code is appropriate when the primary reason for the visit is to detect potential malignancy before symptoms appear.

• Always sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when the sole purpose of the encounter is screening and no abnormal findings are present.
• If a suspicious finding is identified during the screening, code the finding first, followed by this screening code.
• Do not use this code if the patient presents with signs or symptoms suggestive of a nervous system neoplasm; in such cases, code the signs/symptoms or the confirmed diagnosis.