2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D44.3Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›D37-D48›D44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Risk Adjusts — HCC 23
- Not Chronic
D44.3 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 643 through 645. Coders also document this condition as low grade glioma of cerebrum. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neoplasms of unspecified nature or uncertain behavior.
For Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, D44.3 maps to CMS-HCC Category 23 (Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors) under the V28 model, adding a risk factor of about 0.186 for a community, non-dual, aged beneficiary in payment year 2027.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Medicare Risk Adjustment (HCC)Billing
D44.3 maps to a payment category in the CMS-HCC model used to risk-adjust Medicare Advantage payments. Weights are the published community factors for payment year 2027.
Source: CMS Payment Year 2027 risk adjustment mappings and model software. Weights are relative factors, not dollar amounts; a beneficiary's total RAF also includes demographics and interactions. Browse all CMS-HCC categories.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Low grade glioma of cerebrum
- Mass of neurohypophysis
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of endocrine glands and nervous system
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland
- Pituicytoma
- Pituicytoma of posterior pituitary gland
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to D44.3: its own notes plus those printed at D44, block D37-D48, and 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.
- neoplasms of unspecified behavior (D49.-)
Use Additional Code
Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.
- code to identify any functional activity.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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 D44.3, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes2 1
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming D44.3: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
- D49 Neoplasms of unspecified behavior
Notes 1
These notes mention D44.3.
- Block D37-D48 Neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Rathke's pouch tumor D44.3
Tumor See Also: Neoplasm, unspecified behavior, by site;
Rathke's pouch D44.3
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Craniopharyngioma
a benign pituitary-region neoplasm that originates from rathke's pouch. the two major histologic and clinical subtypes are adamantinous (or classical) craniopharyngioma and papillary craniopharyngioma. the adamantinous form presents in children and adolescents as an expanding cystic lesion in the pituitary region. the cystic cavity is filled with a black viscous substance and histologically the tumor is composed of adamantinomatous epithelium and areas of calcification and necrosis. papillary craniopharyngiomas occur in adults, and histologically feature a squamous epithelium with papillations. (from joynt, clinical neurology, 1998, ch14, p50)
Table of NeoplasmsClinical
Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.
| Site | Malig. Primary | Malig. Secondary | Ca in situ | Benign | Uncertain | Unspec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| craniobuccal pouch | C75.2 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
| fossa (of) › pituitary | C75.1 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
| hypophysis | C75.1 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
| intrasellar | C75.1 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
| pituitary (body) (fossa) (gland) (lobe) | C75.1 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
| Rathke's pouch | C75.1 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
| sella turcica | C75.1 | C79.89 | D09.3 | D35.2 | D44.3 | D49.7 |
Patient EducationClinical
Pituitary Disorders
Your pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland at the base of your brain. The pituitary is the "master control gland" - it makes hormones that affect growth and the functions of other glands in the body.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert D44.3 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About D44.3Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland?
The ICD-10-CM code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland is D44.3 (sometimes written as D443). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is D44.3 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of endocrine glands) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does D44.3 group to?
When neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 644, 645, 643, with relative weights from 0.7461 to 1.6138 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can D44.3 be reported with a code from E31.2?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at D44, which applies to D44.3, lists "multiple endocrine adenomatosis (E31.2-)". 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).
Does D44.3 need an additional code?
When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify any functional activity.. The additional code is reported after D44.3.
What HCC is D44.3?
D44.3 (neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland) maps to CMS-HCC Category 23 (Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors), commonly written as HCC 23, in the CMS-HCC V28 model used for Medicare Advantage risk adjustment in payment year 2027. It mapped to HCC 12 under the retired V24 model. It also maps in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22), ESRD (V21), and ESRD (V24) models. In the Part D prescription drug model it maps to RxHCC 22.
Does D44.3 risk-adjust for Medicare Advantage payment?
Yes. When documented and reported on a Medicare Advantage encounter, D44.3 adds a risk adjustment factor of about 0.186 to the beneficiary's RAF score for a community, non-dual, aged enrollee (published V28 weights range from 0.186 to 0.237 depending on the payment segment). A more severe related category (HCC 17, HCC 18, HCC 19, HCC 20, HCC 21, and HCC 22) supersedes it when both are reported. See the full factor table on the HCC 23 category page.
