2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C72

Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system

ICD-10-CM Code:
C72
ICD-10 Code for:
Malig neoplm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and oth prt cnsl
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

C72 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2026 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Malig neoplm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and oth prt cnsl

Non-specific codes like C72 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for malig neoplm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and oth prt cnsl:

  • Use C72.0 for Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.1 for Malignant neoplasm of cauda equina - BILLABLE CODE

  • C72.2 for Malignant neoplasm of olfactory nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.20 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified olfactory nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.21 for Malignant neoplasm of right olfactory nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.22 for Malignant neoplasm of left olfactory nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • C72.3 for Malignant neoplasm of optic nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.30 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified optic nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.31 for Malignant neoplasm of right optic nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.32 for Malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • C72.4 for Malignant neoplasm of acoustic nerve - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.40 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified acoustic nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.41 for Malignant neoplasm of right acoustic nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.42 for Malignant neoplasm of left acoustic nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • C72.5 for Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified cranial nerves - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.50 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified cranial nerve - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.59 for Malignant neoplasm of other cranial nerves - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use C72.9 for Malignant neoplasm of central nervous system, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

Code Classification

  • Neoplasms
    C00–D49
    • Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system
      C69-C72
      • Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system
        C72

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.


Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
  • malignant neoplasm of meninges C70
  • malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system C47

Patient Education


Cancer

What is cancer?

Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Usually, your body forms new cells as needed, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes this process goes wrong. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor.

Tumors can be benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer, while malignant ones are. Cells from malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues. They can also break away and spread to other parts of your body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Symptoms and treatment depend on the type of cancer and how advanced it is.

What are the types of cancer?

There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Cancer can start almost anywhere in your body. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast.

Cancer may also be described by the type of cell that formed it, such as sarcoma if cancer begins in your bone and soft tissue. Carcinoma is the most common type of cancer. It is formed by epithelial cells, the cells that cover the inside and outside surfaces of your body.

How does cancer develop?

Cancer is a genetic disease. That means changes in your genes cause it. Changes in your genes are also called gene variants or mutations. Genes are parts of DNA in your cells that you inherit from your parents. However, only some cancers are caused by genes passed down from your parents.

Genetic changes can occur to your genes over your lifetime that affect how your cells function. Usually, your body gets rid of damaged cells before they turn cancerous, but this ability goes down as you age. Other factors that may affect your risk of developing cancer can include:

  • Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun
  • Smoking
  • Your diet
  • Physical inactivity

What are the symptoms of cancer?

Cancer symptoms depend on the type of cancer. For example, some of the symptoms that cancer may cause can include:

  • A lump in your breast
  • Blood in your urine (pee) or stool (poop)
  • Bleeding or bruising for no known reason
  • A sore that doesn't heal
  • Trouble swallowing
  • A new mole or a change to a mole you already have

Cancer may cause various symptoms but often doesn't cause pain. Don't wait until you're having pain before seeing your health care provider. See your provider if you have symptoms that don't get better in a few weeks.

How is cancer diagnosed?

There is no single test that can diagnose cancer. The tests ordered are usually based on your symptoms. Your provider may:

  • Ask about your medical history
  • Ask about your family health history, including relatives who have had cancer
  • Do a physical exam
  • Do a screening test such as a mammogram, colonoscopy, or a Pap test
  • Order blood tests or imaging tests

To find out if you have cancer, your provider may order a biopsy. A biopsy is the procedure of removing and examining tissue, cells, or fluids from your body.

What are the treatments for cancer?

Treatment depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is. Most treatment plans may include surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. Some may involve hormone therapy, immunotherapy or other types of biological therapy, or stem cell transplantation.

Can cancer be prevented?

It's usually not possible to know exactly why cancer develops in some people but not others. There are some things that you can't control which may increase or decrease your risk of getting cancer, such as inheriting certain genes or your age. But some lifestyle habits may increase your risk of certain types of cancer. Avoid or reduce lifestyle habits such as:

  • Smoking and tobacco use
  • Having too much sun exposure
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Having obesity

NIH: National Cancer Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Neurologic Diseases

The brain, spinal cord, and nerves make up the nervous system. Together they control all the workings of the body. When something goes wrong with a part of your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing, or learning. You can also have problems with your memory, senses, or mood.

There are more than 600 neurologic diseases. Major types include:

  • Diseases caused by faulty genes, such as Huntington's disease and muscular dystrophy
  • Problems with the way the nervous system develops, such as spina bifida
  • Degenerative diseases, where nerve cells are damaged or die, such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease
  • Diseases of the blood vessels that supply the brain, such as stroke
  • Injuries to the spinal cord and brain
  • Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy
  • Cancer, such as brain tumors
  • infections, such as meningitis

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Brain Tumors-Patient Version

Learn about brain and spinal cord tumor risk factors, symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, and treatment.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2026 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2025 through 9/30/2026
  • FY 2025 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2024 through 9/30/2025
  • 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.