2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C70.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C69-C72›C70

ICD-10-CM C70.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

C70.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Nervous system cancers - brain.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C70.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges
Short Description
Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
C70
Malignant neoplasm of meninges

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC69-C72Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system
CategoryC70Malignant neoplasm of meninges
This CodeC70.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Diffuse leptomeningeal melanocytosis
  • Diffuse melanosis of meninges
  • Intracranial meningioma
  • Malignant meningioma of meninges of brain
  • Malignant meningioma of optic nerve sheath
  • Malignant neoplasm of brain meninges
  • Malignant neoplasm of cerebral arachnoid mater
  • Malignant neoplasm of cerebral dura mater
  • Malignant neoplasm of cerebral pia mater
  • Malignant neoplasm of optic nerve
  • Malignant neoplasm of optic nerve and sheath
  • Malignant neoplasm of optic nerve sheath
  • Meningioma of optic nerve sheath
  • Primary malignant meningioma
  • Primary malignant meningioma of meninges of brain
  • Primary malignant meningioma of optic nerve sheath
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of brain meninges
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of meninges
  • Primary melanocytic lesion of meninges

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR NEO048
Nervous system cancers - brain
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Adult Intracranial Meningioma|Adult Brain Meningioma

    an intracranial meningioma that occurs during adulthood.

  • Anaplastic (Malignant) Intracranial Meningioma

    an anaplastic meningioma that arises within the cranial cavity.

  • Benign Intracranial Meningioma|Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges

    a grade i, slowly growing meningioma within the cranial cavity.

  • Childhood Intracranial Meningioma|Brain Meningioma|Childhood Brain Meningioma

    an intracranial meningioma that occurs during childhood.

  • Intracranial Meningioma

    a meningioma that arises within the cranial cavity.

  • Radiation-Induced Intracranial Meningioma

    a meningioma that arises within the cranial cavity and results from exposure to radiation.

  • Grade 1 Intracranial Meningioma|Benign Intracranial Meningioma|Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges

    a grade i, slowly growing meningioma within the cranial cavity.

Table of NeoplasmsClinical

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

SiteMalig.
Primary		Malig.
Secondary		Ca
in situ		BenignUncertainUnspec.
arachnoid › cerebralC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
brain NEC › meningesC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
cerebrum, cerebral (cortex) (hemisphere) (white matter) › meningesC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
cranial (fossa, any) › meningesC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
dura (cranial) (mater) › cerebralC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
falx (cerebella) (cerebri)C70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
meninges › brainC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
meninges › cerebralC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
meninges › cranialC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
meninges › intracranialC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
pia mater › cerebralC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
pia mater › cranialC70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7
tentorium (cerebelli)C70.0C79.32–D32.0D42.0D49.7

Patient EducationClinical

Brain Tumors

A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells in the tissues of the brain. Brain tumors can be benign, with no cancer cells, or malignant, with cancer cells that grow quickly. Some are primary brain tumors, which start in the brain. Others are metastatic, and they start somewhere else in the body and move to the brain.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert C70.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
192.1 Mal neo cerebral mening
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 C70.0Overview

Is C70.0 (Malignant neoplasm of meninges) a billable code?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C70.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges converts to ICD-9-CM 192.1 (mal neo cerebral mening). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

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.