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Wiki Coding Help

Bestliteman

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My doc as given me a diagnosis of pleural hematoma. I'm guessing this is blood clots in both lungs but can't find a diagnosis code that fits.

Can anyone help
 
Hematoma

According to Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary " Hematoma means-A swelling or mass of blood (usually clotted) confined to an organ, tissue, or space and caused by a break in a blood vessel".
Having said that, I disagree that a hematoma is not a clot.
 
Slg

I believe I would querry the physician to find out exactly what he/she is referring to. It could be an injury or a post op complication. There will be a difference in the coding depending on the circumstances.
 
Generally, in ICD-9 hematoma and contusion are interchangeable. It's one of the areas that really is limited. However, a blood "clot" would usually refer to a thrombosis. Hemoptysis means spitting up blood so that definitely is not correct. I would question the doctor to see exactly what he means.
 
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