Peritoneal Cancer ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

The World Health Organization developed a coding system known as the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, or ICD-10, to classify medical conditions. The ICD-10 codes contain alphanumeric characters that offer accurate information about various diseases and health conditions. The system consists of chapters based on the body systems, which have various categories and subcategories that ensure great specificity. This is of immense help to clinical researchers, physicians, and policymakers in accurately identifying and classifying diseases.

The ICD-9 preceded the ICD-10, however, the previous system offered much less detail than the new version. The advantage of ICD-10 is that it is highly specific, detailed and has lengthy alphanumeric codes that can go up to seven characters. On the other hand, the ICD-9 codes were only valid for up to five characters.

The ICD-10 has not remained stagnant. In fact, the coding system has undergone various modifications to ensure the classification of diseases remains accurate and up to date. The coding system includes not just physical illnesses but also psychiatric conditions. This has ensured specificity and advancement in ICD-10.

What is the ICD 10 code for peritoneal cancer?

For peritoneal cancer, the general ICD-10 code is C48 (malignant neoplasm of the retroperitoneum and peritoneum). This is further classified into four categories, which are listed under ICD-10 code C48.

Peritoneal cancer ICD 10 code: C48

Primary lung cancer ICD 10 code C48 lookup

Below is a table of the ICD 10 codes for peritoneal cancer and its types, which are classified under C48 as malignant neoplasm of the retroperitoneum and peritoneum.[¹]

C48: Malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum

Types of peritoneal cancer included under C48

Peritoneal cancer has the following ten types of cancers that are coded under C48:

• Malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum
• Malignant neoplasm of specific parts of the peritoneum
• Malignant neoplasm of peritoneum (unspecified)
• Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of retroperitoneum and peritoneum

Peritoneum cancers excluded from ICD-10 C48

Two specific types of peritoneum cancers are completely excluded from the C48 classifications. These cancers are Kaposi’s sarcoma of connective tissue, which is coded C46.1, and mesothelioma (C45). Mesothelioma has its own five different types of cancers (C45.0, C45.1, C45.2, C45.7, and C45.9). [²]

Secondary peritoneal cancer ICD-10 Code: C78.6

Secondary peritoneal cancer ICD 10 code C78.6 lookup

The ICD 10 peritoneal cancer code for secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum is 78.6 [³]. This code is billable till September 30, 2023, for submitting HIPAA_covered transactions.

Conclusion

The ICD-10 codes for peritoneum classify malignant neoplasm on both unspecified and specified parts of the peritoneum as well as a neoplasm that overlaps on sites of the peritoneum and retroperitoneum. It also includes coding of the neoplasm of the retroperitoneum. However, the list does not contain coding for secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum (coded under the C78.6 classification). Understanding cancer’s origin and pathophysiology of peritoneum cancer is crucial to correctly classify it in the ICD-10 codes.