C71.9 — Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified
Is C71.9 billable?
Yes, but C71.9 is an unspecified code. C71.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C71.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting C71.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
- C71.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebrum, except lobes and ventricles
- C71.1Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobe
- C71.2Malignant neoplasm of temporal lobe
- C71.3Malignant neoplasm of parietal lobe
- C71.4Malignant neoplasm of occipital lobe
- C71.5Malignant neoplasm of cerebral ventricle
- C71.6Malignant neoplasm of cerebellum
- C71.7Malignant neoplasm of brain stem
- C71.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brain
C71.9 at a glance
| Code | C71.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does C71.9 group to?
C71.9 sits in MDC 01 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 054Nervous System Neoplasms with MCCmedical
- 055Nervous System Neoplasms without MCCmedical
As a secondary diagnosis, C71.9 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.
How is C71.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to C71.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Astroblastoma › unspecified site
- Astrocytoma › unspecified site (cystic)
- Astroglioma › unspecified site
- Ependymoblastoma › unspecified site
- Ependymoma › unspecified site (epithelial) (malignant)
- Gemistocytoma › unspecified site
- Glioblastoma › unspecified site (multiforme)
- Glioma › unspecified site (malignant)
- Gliosarcoma › unspecified site
- Oligoastrocytoma › unspecified site
- Oligodendroblastoma › unspecified site
- Oligodendroglioma › unspecified site
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C71
The conditions below can never be reported together with C71.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
How long has C71.9 existed?
C71.9 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.
What other codes are in the C71 family? (9)
- C71.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebrum, except lobes and ventricles
- C71.1Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobe
- C71.2Malignant neoplasm of temporal lobe
- C71.3Malignant neoplasm of parietal lobe
- C71.4Malignant neoplasm of occipital lobe
- C71.5Malignant neoplasm of cerebral ventricle
- C71.6Malignant neoplasm of cerebellum
- C71.7Malignant neoplasm of brain stem
- C71.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brain