Malignant neoplasm of short bones of lower limb

This code signifies the presence of a cancerous tumor originating in the short bones of the lower extremity. This includes malignant neoplasms affecting bones such as the tarsals (e.g., calcaneus, talus, navicular, cuneiforms, cuboid) and metatarsals.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a primary malignant neoplasm located in any of the short bones of the foot. This diagnosis is typically supported by pathology reports confirming malignancy and imaging studies localizing the tumor to a specific short bone in the lower limb.

• Differentiate from malignant neoplasms of long bones of the lower limb (e.g., femur, tibia, fibula).
• Ensure the documentation specifies "malignant" and not a benign tumor or a secondary/metastatic site.
• Confirm the specific bone involved is classified as a "short bone" of the lower limb to avoid miscoding.