2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C71.9

Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:
C71.9
ICD-10 Code for:
Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Neoplasms
    (C00–D49)
    • Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system
      (C69-C72)
      • Malignant neoplasm of brain
        (C71)

C71.9 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

The following anatomical sites found in the Table of Neoplasms reference this diagnosis code given the correct histological behavior: Neoplasm, neoplastic brain NEC ; Neoplasm, neoplastic cranial (fossa, any) ; Neoplasm, neoplastic fossa (of) ; Neoplasm, neoplastic fossa (of) anterior (cranial) ; Neoplasm, neoplastic fossa (of) cranial ; Neoplasm, neoplastic fossa (of) middle (cranial) ; Neoplasm, neoplastic fossa (of) posterior (cranial) ; etc

Unspecified diagnosis codes like C71.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Anaplastic astrocytoma of brain
  • Anaplastic astrocytoma of central nervous system
  • Anaplastic astrocytoma of central nervous system
  • Anaplastic glioma of brain
  • Astroblastoma of brain
  • Astroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Astroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Astrocytoma of brain
  • Carcinoma of brain
  • Dementia due to primary malignant neoplasm of brain
  • Desmoplastic nodular medulloblastoma of brain
  • Diffuse astrocytoma of brain
  • Embryonal carcinoma
  • Ependymoblastoma
  • Ependymoma
  • Ependymoma of brain
  • Fibrillary astrocytoma of brain
  • Fibrillary astrocytoma of central nervous system
  • Fibrillary astrocytoma of central nervous system
  • Ganglioneuroblastoma
  • Ganglioneuroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma of brain
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma of central nervous system
  • Gemistocytic astrocytoma of central nervous system
  • Germ cell tumor of the brain
  • Germ cell tumor of the brain
  • Giant cell glioblastoma of brain
  • Giant cell glioblastoma of central nervous system
  • Giant cell glioblastoma of central nervous system
  • Glial tumor of brain
  • Glioblastoma multiforme
  • Glioblastoma multiforme of brain
  • Gliosarcoma of brain
  • Gliosarcoma of central nervous system
  • Gliosarcoma of central nervous system
  • Grade 4 malignant glioma of brain
  • High grade astrocytoma of brain
  • Large cell medulloblastoma of brain
  • Low grade astrocytoma of brain
  • Low grade glioma of brain
  • Low grade malignant glioma of brain
  • Malignant glioma of brain
  • Malignant neoplasm of axial suprasellar region of brain
  • Malignant neoplasm of brain
  • Malignant teratoma
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Medulloblastoma
  • Mixed glial tumor of brain
  • Mixed glioma
  • Mixed oligoastrocytoma
  • Neuroblastoma of brain
  • Neuroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Neuroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Oligodendroglioma
  • Oligodendroglioma of brain
  • Pilomyxoid astrocytoma
  • Pilomyxoid astrocytoma
  • Pilomyxoid astrocytoma of brain
  • Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
  • Pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma of brain
  • Primary anaplastic astrocytoma of brain
  • Primary anaplastic glioma of brain
  • Primary anaplastic large cell medulloblastoma of brain
  • Primary astroblastoma of brain
  • Primary embryonal carcinoma of brain
  • Primary fibrillary astrocytoma of brain
  • Primary ganglioneuroblastoma of brain
  • Primary ganglioneuroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Primary gemistocytic astrocytoma of brain
  • Primary giant cell glioblastoma of brain
  • Primary glioblastoma multiforme of brain
  • Primary gliosarcoma of brain
  • Primary malignant astrocytoma of brain
  • Primary malignant atypical teratoid rhabdoid neoplasm of brain
  • Primary malignant atypical teratoid rhabdoid neoplasm of central nervous system
  • Primary malignant glioma of brain
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of brain
  • Primary mixed glioma
  • Primary neuroblastoma of brain
  • Primary neuroblastoma of central nervous system
  • Primary oligodendroglioma of brain
  • Primary pilomyxoid astrocytoma of brain
  • Primary pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma of brain
  • Primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor
  • Primary teratoma of brain
  • Primitive neuroectodermal tumor
  • Protoplasmic astrocytoma of brain
  • RELA fusion-positive supratentorial ependymoma
  • Suprasellar germ cell tumor
  • Tumor of pituitary and suprasellar region

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Ganglioneuroblastoma

    a moderately malignant neoplasm composed of primitive neuroectodermal cells dispersed in myxomatous or fibrous stroma intermixed with mature ganglion cells. it may undergo transformation into a neuroblastoma. it arises from the sympathetic trunk or less frequently from the adrenal medulla, cerebral cortex, and other locations. cervical ganglioneuroblastomas may be associated with horner syndrome and the tumor may occasionally secrete vasoactive intestinal peptide, resulting in chronic diarrhea.
  • Medulloblastoma

    a malignant neoplasm that may be classified either as a glioma or as a primitive neuroectodermal tumor of childhood (see neuroectodermal tumor, primitive). the tumor occurs most frequently in the first decade of life with the most typical location being the cerebellar vermis. histologic features include a high degree of cellularity, frequent mitotic figures, and a tendency for the cells to organize into sheets or form rosettes. medulloblastoma have a high propensity to spread throughout the craniospinal intradural axis. (from devita et al., cancer: principles and practice of oncology, 5th ed, pp2060-1)
  • Ependymoma

    glioma derived from ependymoglial cells that tend to present as malignant intracranial tumors in children and as benign intraspinal neoplasms in adults. it may arise from any level of the ventricular system or central canal of the spinal cord. intracranial ependymomas most frequently originate in the fourth ventricle and histologically are densely cellular tumors which may contain ependymal tubules and perivascular pseudorosettes. spinal ependymomas are usually benign papillary or myxopapillary tumors. (from devita et al., principles and practice of oncology, 5th ed, p2018; escourolle et al., manual of basic neuropathology, 2nd ed, pp28-9)
  • Oligodendroglioma

    a relatively slow-growing glioma that is derived from oligodendrocytes and tends to occur in the cerebral hemispheres, thalamus, or lateral ventricle. they may present at any age, but are most frequent in the third to fifth decades, with an earlier incidence peak in the first decade. histologically, these tumors are encapsulated, relatively avascular, and tend to form cysts and microcalcifications. neoplastic cells tend to have small round nuclei surrounded by unstained nuclei. the tumors may vary from well-differentiated to highly anaplastic forms. (from devita et al., cancer: principles and practice of oncology, 5th ed, p2052; adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p655)
  • Horner Syndrome

    a syndrome associated with defective sympathetic innervation to one side of the face, including the eye. clinical features include miosis; mild blepharoptosis; and hemifacial anhidrosis (decreased sweating)(see hypohidrosis). lesions of the brain stem; cervical spinal cord; first thoracic nerve root; apex of the lung; carotid artery; cavernous sinus; and apex of the orbit may cause this condition. (from miller et al., clinical neuro-ophthalmology, 4th ed, pp500-11)
  • Suprasellar Germ Cell Tumor

    a germ cell tumor that arises from the suprasellar region.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Convert C71.9 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 191.9 - Malig neo brain NOS

Table of Neoplasms

This code is referenced in the table of neoplasms by anatomical site. For each site there are six possible code numbers according to whether the neoplasm in question is malignant, benign, in situ, of uncertain behavior, or of unspecified nature. The description of the neoplasm will often indicate which of the six columns is appropriate.

Where such descriptors are not present, the remainder of the Index should be consulted where guidance is given to the appropriate column for each morphological (histological) variety listed. However, the guidance in the Index can be overridden if one of the descriptors mentioned above is present.

Neoplasm, neoplastic Malignant
Primary
Malignant
Secondary
CaInSitu Benign Uncertain
Behavior
Unspecified
Behavior
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »brain NEC
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »cranial (fossa, any)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »fossa (of)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »fossa (of)
    »anterior (cranial)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »fossa (of)
    »cranial
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »fossa (of)
    »middle (cranial)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »fossa (of)
    »posterior (cranial)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »intracranial NEC
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »motor tract
    »brain
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »posterior fossa (cranial)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »suprasellar (region)
C71.9C79.31 D33.2D43.2D49.6

Patient Education


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.

Brain tumors can cause many symptoms. Some of the most common are:

  • Headaches, often in the morning
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Changes in your ability to talk, hear, or see
  • Problems with balance or walking
  • Problems with thinking or memory
  • Feeling weak or sleepy
  • Changes in your mood or behavior
  • Seizures

Doctors diagnose brain tumors by doing a neurologic exam and tests including an MRI, CT scan, and biopsy. Treatment options include watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances that attack cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. Many people get a combination of treatments.

NIH: National Cancer Institute


[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 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.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.