2025 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C46.0

Approximate Synonyms

The following list of clinical terms are approximate synonyms, alternative descriptions, or common phrases that might be used by patients, healthcare providers, or medical coders to describe the same condition. These synonyms and related diagnosis terms are often used when searching for an ICD-10 code, especially when the exact medical terminology is unclear. Whether you're looking for lay terms, similar diagnosis names, or common language alternatives, this list can help guide you to the correct ICD-10 classification.

Clinical Classification

Clinical Classifications group individual ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes into broader, clinically meaningful categories. These categories help simplify complex data by organizing related conditions under common clinical themes.

They are especially useful for data analysis, reporting, and clinical decision-making. Even when diagnosis codes differ, similar conditions can be grouped together based on their clinical relevance. Each category is assigned a unique CCSR code that represents a specific clinical concept, often tied to a body system or medical specialty.

MS-DRG Mapping for ICD-10-CM Code C46.0

Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) are used to classify hospital cases for billing and healthcare management. They help standardize how hospitals and other providers are reimbursed for inpatient care. Patients are grouped based on their principal diagnosis into broader categories called Major Diagnostic Categories (MDCs).

Once assigned to a DRG, the hospital receives a set payment for the patient’s care, regardless of the actual services provided. This fixed rate is intended to cover the typical cost of treating patients within that group. The payment amount depends on the DRG's relative weight, which reflects the expected complexity and cost of care based on the severity of the patient’s condition.

Diagnostic related groups encourage healthcare providers to focus on quality and efficiency in patient care while managing costs effectively. The diagnosis code is present in the following groups for version MS-DRG V42.0 applicable from 10/01/2024 through 09/30/2025.

Convert C46.0 to ICD-9-CM

Below are the ICD-9 codes that most closely match this ICD-10 code, based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs). This ICD-10 to ICD-9 crosswalk tool is helpful for coders who need to reference legacy diagnosis codes for audits, historical claims, or approximate code comparisons.

Patient Education

Kaposi Sarcoma

What is Kaposi sarcoma?

Kaposi sarcoma, sometimes called KS, is a type of cancer. It causes lesions (abnormal tissue) to grow in different parts of the body, including:

• The skin
• Lymph nodes
• Mucous membranes (the lining of the mouth, nose, and throat)
• Other organs

These lesions are usually red or purple. They are made of cancer cells, new blood vessels, and blood cells. The lesions may begin in more than one place in the body at the same time. This makes Kaposi sarcoma different from other cancers.

What causes Kaposi sarcoma and who is more likely to develop it?

Kaposi sarcoma is caused by infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8). This virus is also called Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). Most people infected with this virus don't get Kaposi sarcoma. But certain people who get this virus are more likely to develop one of the types of Kaposi sarcoma:

• People with weakened immune systems due to HIV can develop epidemic (HIV-associated) Kaposi sarcoma.
• People with weakened immune systems due to medicines they need to take after an organ transplant can develop iatrogenic (transplant-related) Kaposi sarcoma.
• Older men of Mediterranean or Eastern European Jewish heritage can develop classic Kaposi sarcoma.
• Young men in Africa can develop endemic (African) Kaposi sarcoma.

What are the symptoms of Kaposi sarcoma?

Kaposi sarcoma usually starts out as one or more red, purple, or brown skin lesions on the legs and feet. They are most often on the ankles or soles of the feet. Over time, lesions may form in other parts of the body. The lesions may not cause symptoms. But sometimes the lesions can cause problems, especially as you get more of them and they grow bigger. For example:

• Pressure from the lesions may block the flow of lymph and blood in the legs and cause painful swelling
• If lesions grow in your stomach or intestines, they can bleed and may cause abdominal (belly) pain and diarrhea
• Lesions in the lungs can also bleed and may cause shortness of breath

How is Kaposi sarcoma diagnosed?

To find out whether you have Kaposi sarcoma, your health care provider:

• Will ask about your medical and family history
• Will do a physical exam
• May order a chest x-ray to look for Kaposi sarcoma in the lungs
• May do a biopsy to check for Kaposi sarcoma lesions in the skin
• May do an endoscopy to check for Kaposi sarcoma in the stomach and intestines
• May do a bronchoscopy to check for Kaposi sarcoma in the lungs

If you do have Kaposi sarcoma, you will likely need blood and imaging tests to find out if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

What are the treatments for Kaposi sarcoma?

Which treatment(s) you get will depend on

• The type of Kaposi sarcoma you have
• How many lesions you have and where in the body they are
• What kinds of problems the lesions are causing
• Your overall health

For people who have epidemic (HIV-associated) Kaposi sarcoma, taking HIV medicines may be enough to treat the Kaposi sarcoma. For people who have iatrogenic (transplant-related) Kaposi sarcoma, changing the dose of the medicines or switching medicines may be helpful. But some people with these types of Kaposi sarcoma will need additional treatment.

The treatment options for Kaposi sarcoma may include:

• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Cryosurgery, a treatment that uses an instrument to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy

NIH: National Cancer Institute

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Soft Tissue Sarcoma-Patient Version

Learn about soft tissue sarcoma risk factors, symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, staging, and treatment.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

• 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.