2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C41.2Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column

ICD-10-CM CodesC00–D49C40-C41C41

ICD-10-CM C41.2
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

C41.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of vertebral column. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 456 through 458, 542 through 544. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Bone cancer.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C41.2
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column
Short Description
Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of other and unspecified sites

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC40-C41Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage
CategoryC41Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of other and unspecified sites
This CodeC41.2Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Chondrosarcoma of vertebral column
  • Chordoma
  • Chordoma of cervical spine
  • Chordoma of lumbar spine
  • Chordoma of thoracic spine
  • Chordoma of vertebral column
  • Dedifferentiated chordoma
  • Malignant neoplasm of cervical vertebra
  • Malignant neoplasm of lumbar vertebra
  • Malignant neoplasm of thoracic vertebra
  • Malignant neoplasm of thoracic vertebral column
  • Malignant neoplasm of vertebra
  • Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column
  • Malignant neoplasm of vertebral column region
  • Mass of thoracic vertebrae
  • Neoplasm of cervical vertebra
  • Neoplasm of lumbar vertebra
  • Neoplasm of thoracic vertebra
  • Osteosarcoma of articular cartilage of vertebra
  • Osteosarcoma of bone of vertebra
  • Poorly differentiated chordoma
  • Primary chondrosarcoma of vertebral column
  • Primary chordoma
  • Primary chordoma of cervical spine
  • Primary chordoma of lumbar spine
  • Primary chordoma of thoracic spine
  • Primary chordoma of vertebral column
  • Primary Ewing sarcoma of bone of spine
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of cervical vertebral column
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of lumbar vertebral column
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of thoracic vertebral column
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of vertebral column
  • Primary osteosarcoma of articular cartilage of vertebra
  • Primary osteosarcoma of bone of vertebra
  • Primary osteosarcoma of vertebral column
  • Sarcoma of vertebra

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Type 1 Excludes

  • malignant neoplasm of sacrum and coccyx C41.4

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR NEO023
Bone cancer
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Nucleus Pulposus

    fibrocartilage inner core of the intervertebral disc. prolapsed or bulged nucleus pulposus leads to intervertebral disc displacement while proliferation of cells in the nucleus pulposus is associated with intervertebral disc degeneration.
  • Chordoma

    a malignant tumor arising from the embryonic remains of the notochord. it is also called chordocarcinoma, chordoepithelioma, and notochordoma. (dorland, 27th ed)
  • Poorly Differentiated Chordoma

    a rare, aggressive type of chordoma characterized by loss of smarcb1 expression. it affects children and occasionally young adults. females are affected twice as frequently as males. it usually arises in the axial skeleton. it is composed of sheets or nests of malignant epithelioid cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. the prognosis is poor.

Table of NeoplasmsClinical

Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.

SiteMalig.
Primary
Malig.
Secondary
Ca
in situ
BenignUncertainUnspec.
atlasC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
bone (periosteum) atlasC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
bone (periosteum) axisC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
bone (periosteum) back NECC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
bone (periosteum) intervertebral cartilage or discC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
bone (periosteum) spine, spinal (column)C41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
bone (periosteum) vertebra (column)C41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] intervertebralC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
disc, intervertebralC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
intervertebral cartilage or discC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
nucleus pulposusC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
spine, spinal (column)C41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
spine, spinal (column) lumbosacralC41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2
vertebra (column)C41.2C79.51D16.6D48.0D49.2

Patient EducationClinical

Bone Cancer

Cancer that starts in a bone is uncommon. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert C41.2 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
170.2 Malig neo vertebrae
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About C41.2Overview

Is C41.2 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report malignant neoplasm of vertebral column on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does C41.2 group to?

When malignant neoplasm of vertebral column is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 456, 457, 458, 542, 543, 544, with relative weights from 0.7546 to 8.4034 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C41.2?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, malignant neoplasm of vertebral column converts to ICD-9-CM 170.2 (malig neo vertebrae). The mapping is a direct match.

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.