Brain Cancer ICD-10-CM Codes

What ICD-10 Codes are Used for Brain Cancer 

There’s only one ICD-10 code for brain cancer that practitioners can use for documentation, billing, and medical coding, and that is C71.9: Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified. 

However, check for any specific codes that better reflect the patient’s condition before using this code. Moreover, you should ensure the diagnosis’s clinical information is unavailable or unknown.

Is the Brain Cancer ICD code Billable? 

Yes, the lone ICD code for brain cancer - C71.9: Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified - is billable. 

Clinical Information

• A patient has brain cancer if a healthcare practitioner finds malignant brain tumor/s in their brain. The brain tumors can either be primary (start in the brain) or secondary tumors (spread to the brain from somewhere else). 
• Brain tumors usually grow in the meninges, pituitary gland, cerebellum, brainstem, or skull base and are described by the kind of cells that form them. In addition, they’re also graded according to the growth speed and likeliness of regrowth after treatment. 
• Symptoms will vary depending on the location, growth speed, and size. However, common ones include seizures, headaches, changes in behavior/personality, loss of balance/hearing, confusion, memory loss, difficulty speaking/thinking/finding words, and weakness/numbness in one side/part of the body.
• Those at risk of developing brain tumors are those whose cancers are spreading from other parts of the body, those genetically predisposed to produce too much of a specific kind of cell, and those exposed to radiation often. 
• A patient will undergo tests and exams like a neurological exam, imaging tests, and biopsy to diagnose a brain tumor. A practitioner may also perform other tests for confirmation purposes. 
• Treatment will also vary depending on the stage. Common treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. 

Synonyms Include:

• Cancer of the brain
• Primary malignant neoplasm of the brain
• Cancer of the brain
• Malignant neoplasm of the brain
• Malignant glioma of the brain