C47.3
BillableMalignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves of thorax
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 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer that develops in the nerves of the chest wall and thoracic cavity. This malignant tumor affects peripheral nerve tissue in the thorax region.
Coding Tips
- •Thorax includes chest wall nerves; do not confuse with lung cancer (C34) or mediastinal tumors
- •Document specific anatomical location within thorax if available for more precise coding
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves of the thorax includes tumors arising from intercostal nerves and other chest wall peripheral nerves. These rare sarcomas can be difficult to distinguish from mediastinal tumors or chest wall soft tissue sarcomas and require careful pathological classification.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming nerve sheath origin within the thorax
- ✓Specific location within the thorax (chest wall, intercostal, paravertebral, etc.)
- ✓Imaging (MRI or CT) demonstrating tumor extent and relationship to thoracic structures
- ✓Distinction from mediastinal tumors, lung tumors, or chest wall soft tissue sarcomas
- ✓Surgical margins and completeness of resection if applicable
Commonly Confused Codes
C49.3 (Malignant neoplasm of connective/soft tissue of thorax) — soft tissue tumor of chest wall, not nerve originC34._ (Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung) — lung parenchymal cancer, not nerve tumorC38._ (Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum, and pleura) — mediastinal tumors have different codesC47.6 (Peripheral nerves of trunk, unspecified) — use C47.3 when thorax is specified
Code Hierarchy
└C47Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system└C47.3Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves of thorax
└C47.3Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves of thorax