2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C21.8

Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of rectum, anus and anal canal

ICD-10-CM Code:
C21.8
ICD-10 Code for:
Malig neoplasm of ovrlp sites of rectum, anus and anal canal
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Neoplasms
    (C00–D49)
    • Malignant neoplasms of digestive organs
      (C15-C26)
      • Malignant neoplasm of anus and anal canal
        (C21)

C21.8 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of rectum, anus and anal canal. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

The following anatomical sites found in the Table of Neoplasms reference this diagnosis code given the correct histological behavior: Neoplasm, neoplastic anorectum, anorectal (junction) ; Neoplasm, neoplastic anus, anal overlapping lesion with rectosigmoid junction or rectum ; Neoplasm, neoplastic crypt of Morgagni ; Neoplasm, neoplastic junction ; Neoplasm, neoplastic junction anorectal ; Neoplasm, neoplastic rectosigmoid (junction) overlapping lesion with anus or rectum ; Neoplasm, neoplastic rectum (ampulla) overlapping lesion with anus or rectosigmoid junction ; etc

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Anorectal adenocarcinoma
  • Malignant neoplasm of anorectum
  • Malignant tumor of anorectal junction
  • Overlapping malignant neoplasm of rectum, anus and anal canal

Clinical Classification

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Malignant neoplasm of anorectal junction
  • Malignant neoplasm of anorectum
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of two or more contiguous sites of rectum, anus and anal canal

Convert C21.8 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 154.8 - Mal neo rectum/anus NEC
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Table of Neoplasms

This code is referenced in the table of neoplasms by anatomical site. For each site there are six possible code numbers according to whether the neoplasm in question is malignant, benign, in situ, of uncertain behavior, or of unspecified nature. The description of the neoplasm will often indicate which of the six columns is appropriate.

Where such descriptors are not present, the remainder of the Index should be consulted where guidance is given to the appropriate column for each morphological (histological) variety listed. However, the guidance in the Index can be overridden if one of the descriptors mentioned above is present.

Neoplasm, neoplastic Malignant
Primary
Malignant
Secondary
CaInSitu Benign Uncertain
Behavior
Unspecified
Behavior
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »anorectum, anorectal (junction)
C21.8C78.5D01.3D12.9D37.8D49.0
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »anus, anal
    »overlapping lesion with rectosigmoid junction or rectum
C21.8     
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »crypt of Morgagni
C21.8C78.5D01.3D12.9D37.8D49.0
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »junction
C21.8C78.5D01.3D12.9D37.8D49.0
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »junction
    »anorectal
C21.8C78.5D01.3D12.9D37.8D49.0
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »rectosigmoid (junction)
    »overlapping lesion with anus or rectum
C21.8     
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »rectum (ampulla)
    »overlapping lesion with anus or rectosigmoid junction
C21.8     

Patient Education


Anal Cancer

The anus is where stool leaves your body when you go to the bathroom. It is made up of your outer layers of skin and the end of your large intestine. Anal cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the anus.

Anal cancer is rare. It is more common in smokers and people over 50. You are also at higher risk if you have HPV, have anal sex, or have many sexual partners.

Symptoms include bleeding, pain, or lumps in the anal area. Anal itching and discharge can also be signs of anal cancer.

Doctors use tests that examine the anus to diagnose anal cancer. They include a physical exam, endoscopy, ultrasound, and biopsy.

Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.

NIH: National Cancer Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Colorectal Cancer

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the colon or rectum. Your colon and rectum are part of your digestive system:

  • Your colon is the first and longest part of your large intestine. It absorbs water and some nutrients from foods. It also changes the leftover waste products into stool (poop).
  • Your rectum is the lower part of your large intestine. It's where your body stores stool.

Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer, and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancer that affects either of these parts may also be called colorectal cancer.

What causes colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer happens when there are changes in your genetic material (DNA). These changes are also called mutations or variants. Often, the genetic changes that lead to colorectal cancer happen during your lifetime and the exact cause is unknown. But certain genetic changes that raise your risk for colorectal cancer are inherited, meaning that you are born with them.

Besides genetics, other factors, including your lifestyle and the environment, can affect your risk of colorectal cancer.

Who is more likely to develop colorectal cancer?

Anyone can get colorectal cancer, but certain factors make you more likely to develop it:

  • Being older; your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you age.
  • Having a personal or family history of colorectal cancer.
  • Having a history of adenomas. Adenomas are colorectal polyps (growths) that look abnormal under a microscope or are 1 centimeter or larger. Adenomas are not cancer, but they can sometimes turn into cancer over time.
  • Having a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer).
  • Having chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease for 8 years or more.
  • Having three or more alcoholic drinks per day.
  • Smoking cigarettes.
  • Being Black; Black people have an increased risk of colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer compared to other races.
  • Having obesity.

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer may not always cause symptoms, especially at first. If you do have symptoms, they could include:

  • A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days, such as:
    • Diarrhea
    • Constipation
    • Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
    • Your stool is narrower or has a different shape than usual
  • Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
  • Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
  • Weight loss for no known reason
  • Fatigue

What is screening for colorectal cancer and who needs it?

Because colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms at first, it's important to have screening tests for colorectal cancer. Screening tests look for signs of a disease before you have any symptoms. They can help find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.

Most experts recommend that start screenings at 45 and continue until at least age 75. People over 75 and those who are at high risk should talk to their providers about how often you need screening and what type of test they should get.

The types of tests include different stool tests and procedures such as colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Talk with your provider about how often you need screening and what type of test you should get.

How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?

If you have symptoms that could be caused by colorectal cancer or if your screening test results are abnormal, you may need to have more tests to find out if you have cancer. Possible tests include:

  • A physical exam.
  • A digital rectal exam. For this exam, your provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to feel for lumps or anything unusual.
  • The tests that are also used for screening (colonoscopy, stool tests, etc.) and biopsy, if you have not already had them.
  • Other blood and tissue tests.

What are the treatments for colorectal cancer?

Your treatment options usually depend on your age, your general health, how serious the cancer is, and which type of cancer you have.

For colon cancer, your treatment may include one or more of these options:

  • Surgery.
  • Radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that uses radio waves to heat and destroy abnormal cells. The radio waves travel through electrodes (small devices that carry electricity).
  • Cryosurgery, a procedure in which an extremely cold liquid or an instrument called a cryoprobe is used to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells.
  • Immunotherapy.

For rectal cancer, your treatment may include one or more of these options:

  • Surgery.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Active surveillance, which means having regular tests to see if your rectal cancer has changed. If the tests show the cancer is starting to grow, then you will have treatment to try to cure the cancer.
  • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells.
  • Immunotherapy.

Can colorectal cancer be prevented?

Avoiding the risk factors that you have control over may help prevent some cancers. That includes:

  • Not smoking
  • Limiting alcohol to under three drinks per day
  • Managing your weight

There are also other steps you can take to try to prevent colorectal cancer. They include:

  • Getting regular colorectal cancer screenings
  • Having polyps removed before they can become cancerous
  • Getting regular exercise

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Colorectal Cancer-Patient Version

Learn about rectal cancer risk factors, symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, staging, and treatment.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.