C49.A1

Billable

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of esophagus

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 23 — Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers

0.251

V24HCC 10 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.675

ESRDHCC 10 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.000

RxHCCHCC 20 — Cancer, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct

0.000

What This Code Means

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor that originates in the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Coding Tips

•Confirm the tumor is located in the esophagus and not in adjacent structures
•Document any associated complications such as obstruction or bleeding for complete coding

Clinical Significance

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the esophagus is the rarest site for GIST, accounting for less than 1% of all GISTs. Esophageal GISTs present unique surgical challenges due to the anatomical constraints of the esophagus and may require esophagectomy, a major surgical procedure with significant morbidity.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology confirming GIST of esophageal origin with immunohistochemistry
✓Tumor location within the esophagus (upper, middle, lower third)
✓Tumor size and mitotic rate for risk stratification
✓Endoscopic ultrasound findings showing submucosal mass
✓Mutation analysis results (KIT, PDGFRA)

Commonly Confused Codes

C15._ (Malignant neoplasm of esophagus) — esophageal carcinoma (squamous cell or adenocarcinoma), not GIST C49.A0 (GIST, unspecified site) — use C49.A1 when esophagus is documented C49.A2 (GIST of stomach) — different gastrointestinal site; gastroesophageal junction tumors need careful classification D21._ (Benign neoplasm of connective tissue) — benign esophageal leiomyoma, not malignant GIST

Code Hierarchy

└C49Malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue └C49.AGastrointestinal stromal tumor └C49.A1Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of esophagus

└C49.A1Gastrointestinal stromal tumor of esophagus