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Rectum Cancer ICD 10 Code
Refresher: What are ICD-10 Codes?
The International Classification of Diseases was developed in the 1850s as a system to standardize medical records and data using a single coding system. The ICD-10 (10th edition) began in 1983, with the World Health Organization managing the official list of codes. Countries that have adopted the ICD-10 have modified them based on their specific healthcare system requirements.
The U.S. version of the ICD-10 was constructed in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The code consists of two sets of medical codes the ICD-10-PCS and the ICD-10-CM. The former is mainly used for coding procedures used in inpatient settings, while the latter is used for disease diagnosis.
ICD-10 stands for the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. It is a coding system used in healthcare to systematically classify diagnoses, procedures, and symptoms. CM indicates “Clinical Modification,” and is used in the U.S. for disease diagnoses (ICD-10-CM). ICD-10-PCS codes are used for coding procedures in inpatient settings. Both of these coding systems are used for medical claims and statistics purposes.
In general, ICD-10 codes are different for primary tumors (“malignant neoplasms”) and secondary or metastasized tumors (“secondary malignant neoplasms”).
What is the ICD 10 Code for Rectum Cancer?
C20 [1] is a specific ICD-10 code that is used for the purposes of defining rectum cancer for reimbursement. It should be noted that it is the U.S. version of the ICD-10 coding, which may differ from the ICD-10 codes that are used internationally. This is either a primary or metastatic malignant neoplasm that involves the rectum. Some of the primary or metastatic malignant neoplasms that have a negative impact on the rectum include sarcoma, lymphoma, and carcinoma.
Primary Rectum Cancer ICD 10 Code: C20
ICD-10 Code C20 is a billable code that is used for indicating both the diagnosis of a specific medical condition and for the proper reimbursement of funds.
/0 – The tumor is considered to be benign. At this stage, the cells that are present in the tissue will start multiplying uncontrollably. But, these cells are not able to destroy any of the surrounding tissue or spread to other areas of the body.
/1 – It isn't certain if the tumor is malignant or benign.
/2 – This means the cancer is at an early stage. In this precancerous stage, the cells are altered and begin multiplying uncontrollably, but the cells are still in the area they originated in and have not spread to other organs or parts of the body.
/3 – The cancer is malignant. At this stage, the cancerous cells which are in the tissue are altered, starting to multiply at an uncontrolled pace. During this stage, the cancer cells are also able to spread to other areas of the body and destroy any of the surrounding tissue the cells come in contact with.
/6 – It's a metastasis. This is where the cancer cells have spread from the site that it originally affected to another site in the body and has continued to multiply there.
/9 – It's malignant cancer or at a stage of metastasis. This is when the cells that are present in the affected tissue have been forcibly altered and multiply uncontrollably. It is not clear to say whether the cells have been derived from the site that has been affected or if the cells have spread from another part of the body.
Primary Rectum Cancer ICD code C20 lookup
The body's tissues are made up of cells. When cancer occurs, these cells begin to multiply non-stop, which results in abnormal growth of tissue or malignant neoplasm. These cells are then able to destroy other healthy tissue as well as spread to other parts of the body. The rectum is part of the large intestine, which consists of two parts, the rectum and the anal canal. It is important to note that if the ICD-0 code is used, it does not always describe malignant cancer. This is where the last digit that appears after the slash can provide more specific information.
Below is a table of the ICD 10 rectum cancer codes [2] for primary rectum cancers, which are classified under C20, “malignant neoplasm involving the rectum."
C20: Malignant neoplasm of Rectum
Types of Rectum Cancer Coded under C20
Rectal cancer is a serious medical condition in which malignant cells form within the tissue of the rectum. Signs of rectal cancer include a change in bowel movement and a discharge of blood in stool. The health history of an individual determines the risk of getting rectal cancer.
Most individuals who have been diagnosed with rectum cancer have adenocarcinoma. However, there are other types of tumors as well that require different treatment options. Some of the different types of rectum cancer include the following;
- Adenocarcinomas - In this type of cancer, the cells that line the interior of the rectum are affected.
- Carcinoid tumor - This type begins at the hormone-producing cells within the intestine.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor - In this type of cancer, the tumor may form anywhere within the gastrointestinal tract.
- Lymphoma - While this cancer type is mostly associated with the immune system, it can also develop in the rectum as well.
- Hereditary rectal cancer - An estimated 5-10% of people develop colorectal cancer due to mutations in their genes that are hereditary.[3] This means that the genes have been passed on from parents to their children. A specific type of genetic testing can be used to find out whether or not an individual is likely to develop rectal cancer.
Rectum Cancers Excluded from ICD-10 C20
It is important to note that not all cancers have been included in ICD-10 C20. For instance, Type 1 has excluded malignant carcinoid tumors of the rectum (C74.026).
Secondary and Metastatic Rectum Cancer ICD 10 code: C20
Secondary or metastatic rectum cancer means that the cancerous cells have spread to areas beyond the rectum. This is also known as advanced rectal cancer. The good news is that recent advancements in cancer treatment options have significantly improved the outlook of individuals who have been diagnosed with metastatic cancer.
Secondary or metastatic Rectum Cancer ICD-10 code C20 lookup
C20 is a specific ICD-10 code that is used to specify the medical diagnosis of a malignant neoplasm of the rectum. The code is used for treatment and for submission for HIPAA-covered transactions.[4]
Conclusion
Rectum cancer starts to develop in the last section of the large intestine, which is the rectum. It starts as a raised growth called a polyp, which turns into a cancerous tumor. The cells within a cancerous tumor can destroy other healthy tissue it comes in contact with and can also spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, liver, and bones.