2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C71Malignant neoplasm of brain

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C69-C72›C71

ICD-10-CM C71
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

C71 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for malignant neoplasm of brain, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as C71.0, C71.1, C71.2, and C71.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C71
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Malignant neoplasm of brain
Short Description
Malignant neoplasm of brain
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
C69-C72
Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC69-C72Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system
CategoryC71Malignant neoplasm of brain
This CodeC71Malignant neoplasm of brain

Specific Coding for Malignant neoplasm of brainOverview

Non-specific codes like C71 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use C71.0 for Malignant neoplasm of cerebrum, except lobes and ventricles

  • Use C71.1 for Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobe

  • Use C71.2 for Malignant neoplasm of temporal lobe

  • Use C71.3 for Malignant neoplasm of parietal lobe

  • Use C71.4 for Malignant neoplasm of occipital lobe

  • Use C71.5 for Malignant neoplasm of cerebral ventricle

  • Use C71.6 for Malignant neoplasm of cerebellum

  • Use C71.7 for Malignant neoplasm of brain stem

  • Use C71.8 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brain

  • Use C71.9 for Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Type 1 Excludes

  • malignant neoplasm of cranial nerves C72.2 C72.5
  • retrobulbar malignant neoplasm C69.6

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.

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 C71Overview

Is C71 (Malignant neoplasm of brain) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for malignant neoplasm of brain, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for malignant neoplasm of brain need a more specific code from this category, such as C71.0, C71.1, and C71.2.