Malignant neoplasm of salivary gland, unspecified

This code signifies a cancerous growth originating in any of the major or minor salivary glands (e.g., parotid, submandibular, sublingual) when the specific gland involved is not documented. It indicates a primary malignant tumor of the salivary gland system.

This code is appropriate when a patient has a confirmed malignant neoplasm of a salivary gland, but the medical record lacks specificity regarding the exact anatomical site within the salivary gland system. It should be used when documentation states "malignant salivary gland tumor" without further detail.

• Avoid using this code if the specific salivary gland (e.g., parotid, submandibular) is identified in the pathology report or operative notes; instead, use a more specific code from the 142 series.
• Ensure the documentation clearly states "malignant" to differentiate from benign or uncertain behavior neoplasms.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when the salivary gland malignancy is the reason for the encounter, followed by any relevant secondary diagnoses.