C38.0
BillableMalignant neoplasm of heart
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000V24HCC 11 — Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers
0.306ESRDHCC 11 — Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers
0.000RxHCCHCC 20 — Cancer, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer that originates in the heart tissue itself, which is extremely rare.
Coding Tips
- •Primary cardiac malignancies are very uncommon; verify that this is not a metastatic cancer to the heart
- •Distinguish from pericardial cancers (C38.4) and mediastinal cancers
Clinical Significance
Primary cardiac malignancies are extremely rare, with cardiac sarcomas (angiosarcoma most common) being the predominant type. Most cardiac tumors are metastatic rather than primary. These patients have very poor prognosis and require complex management including cardiac surgery, making accurate distinction between primary and secondary cardiac cancer essential.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirmation of primary cardiac malignancy (not metastatic)
- ✓Echocardiography, cardiac MRI, or CT confirming tumor location within the heart
- ✓Histological type (angiosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphoma)
- ✓Assessment of hemodynamic impact and cardiac function
- ✓Documentation clearly distinguishing primary from metastatic cardiac disease
Excludes 1 — Do NOT code together
- malignant neoplasm of great vessels (C49.3)
Commonly Confused Codes
C79.89 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of other specified sites: Most cardiac tumors are metastatic; code as secondary if not primaryD15.1 — Benign neoplasm of heart: Cardiac myxomas are the most common cardiac tumor but are benignC38.4 — Malignant neoplasm of pleura: Pericardial tumors may be confused with cardiac tumorsC38.1 — Anterior mediastinum: Mediastinal tumors may compress or invade the heart
Code Hierarchy
└C38Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum and pleura└C38.0Malignant neoplasm of heart
└C38.0Malignant neoplasm of heart