C16.0
BillableMalignant neoplasm of cardia
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000V24HCC 9 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.973ESRDHCC 9 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer of the cardia, which is the upper opening of the stomach where it connects to the esophagus.
Coding Tips
- •The cardia is the most proximal part of the stomach; distinguish from esophageal cancer at the gastroesophageal junction
- •Verify documentation clearly identifies the cardia as the primary site
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the gastric cardia is a cancer at the gastroesophageal junction area that has been increasing in incidence, particularly in Western populations. This location is clinically significant because it can cause obstruction of the esophageal-gastric passage and often requires complex surgical procedures such as proximal gastrectomy. Accurate coding at this specific site is essential because treatment approaches differ substantially from cancers in other gastric regions.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Confirmation that the primary tumor site is the gastric cardia (cardio-esophageal junction, gastric side)
- ✓Histological type (adenocarcinoma is most common at this site)
- ✓Stage of disease including depth of invasion and lymph node status
- ✓Siewert classification if documented (Types I-III determine esophageal vs gastric coding)
- ✓Active treatment status versus surveillance or history
Commonly Confused Codes
C15.5 — Lower third of esophagus: tumors at the gastroesophageal junction may be classified as either site; Siewert Type I/II are typically esophageal while Type III is gastricC16.1 — Fundus of stomach: the fundus is anatomically superior but distinct from the cardia; cardia is at the junction, fundus is the domeC16.9 — Stomach, unspecified: use C16.0 when cardia is specifically documented
Code Hierarchy
└C16Malignant neoplasm of stomach└C16.0Malignant neoplasm of cardia
└C16.0Malignant neoplasm of cardia