2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C72Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C69-C72›C72

ICD-10-CM C72
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

C72 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as C72.0, C72.1, C72.20, and C72.21.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C72
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system
Short Description
Malig neoplm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and oth prt cnsl
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
CategoryC72Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system
This CodeC72Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system

Specific Coding for Malig neoplm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and oth prt cnslOverview

Non-specific codes like C72 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use C72.0 for Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord

  • Use C72.1 for Malignant neoplasm of cauda equina

  • C72.2 for Malignant neoplasm of olfactory nerve

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

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

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

  • C72.3 for Malignant neoplasm of optic nerve

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

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

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

  • C72.4 for Malignant neoplasm of acoustic nerve

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

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

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

  • C72.5 for Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified cranial nerves

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

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

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

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C72: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 2. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • malignant neoplasm of meninges (C70.-)
  • malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system (C47.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 2 (C00-D49) Neoplasms applies to 1,730 codes
  • Functional activity
  • All neoplasms are classified in this chapter, whether they are functionally active or not. An additional code from Chapter 4 may be used, to identify functional activity associated with any neoplasm.
  • Morphology [Histology]
  • Chapter 2 classifies neoplasms primarily by site (topography), with broad groupings for behavior, malignant, in situ, benign, etc. The Table of Neoplasms should be used to identify the correct topography code. In a few cases, such as for malignant melanoma and certain neuroendocrine tumors, the morphology (histologic type) is included in the category and codes.
  • Primary malignant neoplasms overlapping site boundaries
  • A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion'), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
  • Malignant neoplasm of ectopic tissue
  • Malignant neoplasms of ectopic tissue are to be coded to the site mentioned, e.g., ectopic pancreatic malignant neoplasms are coded to pancreas, unspecified (C25.9).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name C72, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 2

These notes mention C72.

  • Z85.8 Personal history of malignant neoplasms of other organs and systems
    Conditions classifiable to C00-C14, C40-C49, C69-C75, C7A.098, C76-C79 names C69-C75, which includes this code
  • Z85.84 Personal history of malignant neoplasm of eye and nervous tissue
    Conditions classifiable to C69-C72 names C69-C72, which includes this code

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Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About C72Overview

Is C72 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system need a more specific code from this category, such as C72.0, C72.1, and C72.20.

Can C72 be reported with a code from C70?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on C72 lists "malignant neoplasm of meninges (C70.-)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).