Melanoma in situ of lip

This code signifies the presence of melanoma that is confined to the epidermis (in situ) and has not invaded the dermis, specifically located on the lip. It represents the earliest stage of melanoma, where the malignant cells are present but have not spread beyond the top layer of skin.

Use this code when documentation clearly states "melanoma in situ" of any part of the lip, confirmed by pathology. This diagnosis is typically made following a biopsy of a suspicious lesion on the lip.

• Ensure the pathology report explicitly states "in situ" and specifies the lip as the anatomical site.
• Do not use this code for invasive melanoma of the lip; refer to codes in the C43.0 category for invasive lesions.
• Laterality (right, left, unspecified) is not specified for this code, as it covers the entire lip.