Malignant neoplasm of conjunctiva

This code signifies a primary cancerous tumor originating in the conjunctiva, the transparent membrane lining the eyelid and covering the white part of the eye. These neoplasms can vary in type, including squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, or lymphoma, and may present as pigmented or non-pigmented lesions.

Assign this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the conjunctiva. This includes biopsy-confirmed cases or clinical diagnoses where malignancy is definitively established. Supporting documentation should include pathology reports, ophthalmologist notes, and imaging findings.

• Differentiate from benign conjunctival lesions (e.g., pterygium, nevus) which have distinct codes.
• Ensure laterality (right, left, bilateral) is specified in the documentation, though this particular ICD-9 code does not allow for laterality specificity.
• Do not use for secondary metastatic tumors to the conjunctiva; instead, code the primary site and use a secondary malignancy code.