C46.0
BillableKaposi's sarcoma of skin
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 21 — Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.545V24HCC 10 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.675ESRDHCC 10 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.000RxHCCHCC 20 — Cancer, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct
0.000What This Code Means
A cancer of blood vessel cells in the skin that appears as purple or dark lesions, commonly seen in patients with weakened immune systems.
Coding Tips
- •Kaposi's sarcoma of skin is often associated with HIV/AIDS; document immunocompromised status and CD4 count if available
- •Specify the anatomical site of skin involvement (face, extremities, etc.) in addition to this code for complete documentation
Clinical Significance
Kaposi sarcoma of the skin is a vascular malignancy most commonly associated with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome but can also occur in immunosuppressed transplant patients or as classic/endemic forms. Skin involvement is the most common presentation and its capture is important for reflecting the patient's immunocompromised status and ongoing oncologic care needs.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology-confirmed diagnosis of Kaposi sarcoma (not just clinical suspicion)
- ✓Underlying immunodeficiency status (Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection, transplant-related immunosuppression, or other)
- ✓Number, size, and distribution of cutaneous lesions
- ✓Current treatment (antiretroviral therapy, chemotherapy, radiation, or observation)
- ✓CD4 count and viral load if Human Immunodeficiency Virus-associated
Commonly Confused Codes
C46.1 (Kaposi sarcoma of soft tissue) — use when deeper soft tissue structures are involved, not just skin surfaceC46.9 (Kaposi sarcoma, unspecified) — avoid when skin involvement is documented; use C46.0 insteadD18.01 (Hemangioma of skin and subcutaneous tissue) — benign vascular lesion, not malignant Kaposi sarcomaC44._ (Other malignant neoplasm of skin) — different skin cancer types such as squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma