Renal Cell Cancer ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

Having begun development in the 1800s, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) is a tool utilized to classify diseases so they can be reported to the WHO. With a standard code describing each disease, statistically understanding the causes of death in a population, the rate of spread of epidemics, and the frequency of diseases in a population become possible. The tenth version of this code is known as ICD-10

ICD-10 is the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems. That means the original codes have been altered ten times. This coding system classifies all known illnesses, giving them universal monikers. It also classifies treatments as well as symptoms of diseases.

The U.S. added "CM" or "Clinical Modification," which are codes used in inpatient settings to collect statistical data and help with medical billing and insurance claims.

In general, ICD-10 codes are different for primary cancers (“malignant neoplasms”) and for metastatic renal cancer (“secondary malignant neoplasms”).[1]

What is the ICD 10 code for renal cancer?

Renal Cancer is the development of a malignant tumor in one or both of the kidneys. Clinically, it’s characterized by uncontrollable cellular proliferation. Primary renal cancers include tumours exclusively starting within the kidneys, excluding other parts of the renal system, i.e. the renal pelvis, urinary tract, or bladder.

For primary renal cancers, the general ICD 10 code is C64 (malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis), whereas the ICD 10 code for secondary renal cancer (or those metastasized from elsewhere) is C79 (secondary malignant neoplasm of kidney and renal pelvis). Further specifications are described below.

Primary renal cancer ICD 10 code: C64

Primary renal cancer ICD 10 code C64 lookup

Below is a table of the ICD 10 renal cancer codes for primary renal cancers, which are classified under C64, “malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis.”[2]

C64: Malignant neoplasm of kidney, except renal pelvis

renal cancer ICD 10 code

Types of renal cancer included under C64

The ICD 10 code C64 does not specify the histopathological subtype of renal cancer. A C64 code can be applied to primary renal cancers of various cell types:

  • Chromophobe carcinoma
  • Clear Cell Carcinoma
  • Oncocytic carcinoma
  • Collecting duct carcinoma
  • Papillary carcinoma
  • Nephroblastoma

In other words, Chromophobe carcinoma, Clear Cell carcinoma, or Papillary carcinoma could call be C64.01 if they are determined to be primary malignant neoplasms of the right kidney, excluding the renal pelvis. As a concrete example, a patient diagnosed with stage 1 Papillary carcinoma of the kidney, with a single tumor found in the neocortex of the left kidney, excluding the renal pelvis, would be coded with C64.11.

Renal Cancers excluded from ICD-10 C64

Three specific renal cancers are coded entirely exclusively. They are malignant carcinoid tumors of the kidney (C7A.093), malignant neoplasm of renal calyces (C65.-), and malignant neoplasm of the renal pelvis (C65.-)

These cancers begin development somewhere else and not primarily in the kidneys. Malignant carcinoid tumor of the kidney begins either in the GI tract or the lungs. While malignant neoplasm of renal calyces arises in the renal calyces within the kidney, it’s classified separately due to the relation between the calyces and the ureters; any tumor of the renal pelvis isn’t categorized under C64 because the renal pelvis is outside the kidney as a separate structure.

Secondary and metastatic renal cancer ICD 10 code: C79

Secondary or metastatic renal cancer ICD 10 code C79 lookup

The ICD 10 renal cancer codes for secondary renal cancers, or renal cancers that have metastasized from other locations, are C79.0, “Secondary malignant neoplasm of kidney and renal pelvis”.[3]

These are further broken down into C78.00 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified kidney and renal pelvis) and C78.01 and C78.02 for right and left kidneys and renal pelvis, respectively.

Conclusion

The ICD-10 code for renal cancer depends on whether the renal cancer is a primary or secondary neoplasm and its specific location in the kidney. Primary renal cancers fall under ICD-10 C64, whereas secondary cancers are coded under C79.0. The ICD-10 code does not usually specify the exact type of renal cancer; the ICD-10 code for Clear cell renal cancer could be the same as the ICD-10 code for Papillary renal cancer if they were both located in the same part of the kidney. It is important to understand the tumor’s origin and pathophysiology and the patient’s pre-existing and co-existing conditions (and prior procedures/treatments) in order to code renal cancers accurately.