2025 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C72.0
Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord
- ICD-10-CM Code:
- C72.0
- ICD-10 Code for:
- Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord
- Is Billable?
- Yes - Valid for Submission
- Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
- Chronic
- Code Navigator:
C72.0 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of spinal cord. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
The following anatomical sites found in the Table of Neoplasms reference this diagnosis code given the correct histological behavior: Neoplasm, neoplastic conus medullaris or Neoplasm, neoplastic cord (true) (vocal) spinal (cervical) (lumbar) (thoracic) or Neoplasm, neoplastic filum terminale or Neoplasm, neoplastic motor tract spinal or Neoplasm, neoplastic spine, spinal (column) cord (cervical) (lumbar) (sacral) (thoracic) .
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.
- Anaplastic astrocytoma of central nervous system
- Anaplastic astrocytoma of central nervous system
- Anaplastic astrocytoma of spinal cord
- Astrocytoma of spinal cord
- Carcinoma of spinal cord
- Ependymoma of spinal cord
- Glial tumor of spinal cord
- Glioblastoma multiforme of spinal cord
- Glioma of spinal cord
- Gliosarcoma of central nervous system
- Gliosarcoma of central nervous system
- Gliosarcoma of spinal cord
- Malignant glioma of spinal cord
- Malignant tumor of spinal cord
- Malignant tumor of spinal cord, extramedullary
- Malignant tumor of spinal cord, intramedullary
- Mixed glial tumor of spinal cord
- Neoplasm of extradural space
- Oligodendroglioma of spinal cord
- Primary anaplastic astrocytoma of central nervous system
- Primary anaplastic astrocytoma of spinal cord
- Primary astrocytoma of spinal cord
- Primary extramedullary malignant tumor of spinal cord
- Primary glioblastoma multiforme of spinal cord
- Primary gliosarcoma of central nervous system
- Primary gliosarcoma of spinal cord
- Primary malignant glioma of spinal cord
- Primary malignant neoplasm of extradural spinal cord
- Primary malignant neoplasm of intramedullary spinal cord
- Primary malignant neoplasm of spinal cord
- Primary oligodendroglioma
- Primary oligodendroglioma of spinal cord
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.
Nervous system cancers - all other types
CCSR Code: NEO049
Inpatient Default: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Outpatient Default: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Convert C72.0 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.
Mal neo spinal cord
ICD-9-CM: 192.2
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means this ICD-10 code does not have an exact ICD-9 equivalent. The matched code is the closest available option, but it may not fully capture the original diagnosis or clinical intent.
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 »conus medullaris | C72.0 | C79.49 | D33.4 | D43.4 | D49.7 | |
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »cord (true) (vocal) »spinal (cervical) (lumbar) (thoracic) | C72.0 | C79.49 | D33.4 | D43.4 | D49.7 | |
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »filum terminale | C72.0 | C79.49 | D33.4 | D43.4 | D49.7 | |
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »motor tract »spinal | C72.0 | C79.49 | D33.4 | D43.4 | D49.7 | |
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »spine, spinal (column) »cord (cervical) (lumbar) (sacral) (thoracic) | C72.0 | C79.49 | D33.4 | D43.4 | D49.7 |
Patient Education
Cancer
Cancer begins in your cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, your body forms new cells as you need them, 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 the body.
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, and breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type 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 biologic therapy, or stem cell transplantation.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Spinal Cord Diseases
Your spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the middle of your back. It carries signals back and forth between your body and your brain. It is protected by your vertebrae, which are the bone disks that make up your spine. If you have an accident that damages the vertebrae or other parts of the spine, this can also injure the spinal cord. Other spinal cord problems include:
- Tumors
- Infections such as meningitis and polio
- Inflammatory diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Degenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy
Symptoms vary but might include pain, numbness, loss of sensation and muscle weakness. These symptoms can occur around the spinal cord, and also in other areas such as your arms and legs. Treatments often include medicines and surgery.
[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.