In the case of a benign nevus with clear margins, which ICD-10-CM code is reported?

The correct choice for coding a benign nevus with clear margins is D23.39. This code falls under the category of benign neoplasms of the skin, specifically for other benign neoplasms of the skin, which is appropriate for a benign nevus (mole or skin tag). When reporting a benign nevus, it is essential to use the specific code that addresses benign conditions. The use of a code that specifies it as benign, like D23.39, indicates that the lesion is non-cancerous and does not require further intervention, which aligns with the documented diagnosis of a benign nevus.

Other codes listed pertain to different conditions; for example, K50.90 relates to inflammatory bowel disease, M17.10 is related to osteoarthritis of the knee, and C50.919 relates to malignant neoplasms of the breast. Each of these options is therefore inappropriate for a benign nevus, reinforcing that D23.39 is indeed the correct ICD-10-CM code to report in this situation.