What is ICD-10 code C53.8?

C53.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of cervix uteri. Cancer of the cervix that involves multiple overlapping sites or areas within the cervix. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C53.8 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C53.8 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. C53.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. C53.8 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for C53.8?

CMS phased in the V28 risk adjustment model over payment years 2024 (33%), 2025 (67%), and 2026 (100%), replacing V24. V28 consolidates HCC categories, removes some lower-acuity conditions, and recalibrates RAF weights across the entire model. For C53.8, V28 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers at RAF 0.000 while V24 mapped to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers at RAF 0.306. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting C53.8?

Use this code when the tumor spans both endocervical and exocervical regions Document the extent of involvement and any invasion into surrounding tissues for accurate staging Because C53.8 maps to a payment HCC, the documentation must also satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's risk adjustment score.

C53.8: Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

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Code lookupC53.8Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of female genital organs (C51-C58)

C53.8

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of cervix uteri

Cancer of the cervix that involves multiple overlapping sites or areas within the cervix.

Buddy Insight

Overlapping sites of cervix uteri indicates a malignancy that spans both the endocervix and exocervix, or involves multiple cervical subsites.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 22

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.0

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.306

ACA/HHS

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.0

RXHCC

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

Code Trumping

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Code Book Path

Official

C53Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri

C53.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of cervix uteri

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C53.8 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C53.8 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

C53.0Malignant neoplasm of endocervix

C53.1Malignant neoplasm of exocervix

C53.9Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri, unspecified

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C53.8 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

carcinoma in situ of cervix uteri (D06.-)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C53.8 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C53.8 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C53.8 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Documentation that tumor involves both endocervical and exocervical regions

Histological type and grade

FIGO staging reflecting the extent of disease

Depth of invasion and parametrial involvement

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Documentation that tumor involves both endocervical and exocervical regions

Histological type and grade

FIGO staging reflecting the extent of disease

Depth of invasion and parametrial involvement

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Confusing overlapping sites (tumor spans endocervix and exocervix) with unspecified site (location unknown)

Coding advanced cervical cancer that involves the uterine body as overlapping cervical sites when it should be staged as cervical primary with parametrial invasion

Not distinguishing between primary cervical cancer and secondary involvement from endometrial or vaginal primary

Using this code for multifocal disease when foci could be classified separately

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

C53.0 — Endocervix only; use when tumor is confined to the inner cervical canal

C53.1 — Exocervix only; use when tumor is confined to the outer cervical surface

C53.9 — Cervix unspecified; use when the cervical subsite is unknown, not when multiple known sites are involved

C55 — Uterus, part unspecified; if tumor extends from cervix to corpus, determine the primary site per FIGO guidelines

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is C53.8 an HCC code?

Yes. C53.8 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under V24).

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 22, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.000

V24HCC 11, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.306

ESRDHCC 11, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.000

RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.

MEAT Criteria for C53.8

For C53.8to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.

MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis

Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed C53.8 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

C53.8 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of cervix uteri. Cancer of the cervix that involves multiple overlapping sites or areas within the cervix. C53.8 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of female genital organs (c51-c58).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C53.8 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers (HCC 22) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.000. Under the older V24 model, C53.8 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.306, V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.

Use this code when the tumor spans both endocervical and exocervical regions. Because C53.8 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for C53.8 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Use this code when the tumor spans both endocervical and exocervical regions
•Document the extent of involvement and any invasion into surrounding tissues for accurate staging

Clinical Significance

Overlapping sites of cervix uteri indicates a malignancy that spans both the endocervix and exocervix, or involves multiple cervical subsites. This typically represents locally advanced cervical cancer where the tumor has extended beyond a single anatomical compartment. The overlapping designation has implications for treatment approach and staging.

Documentation Requirements

✓Documentation that tumor involves both endocervical and exocervical regions
✓Histological type and grade
✓FIGO staging reflecting the extent of disease
✓Depth of invasion and parametrial involvement
✓Lymph node status
✓Extension to vagina, uterine body, or other adjacent structures
✓Surgical specimen margins if applicable

Commonly Confused Codes

•C53.0: Endocervix only; use when tumor is confined to the inner cervical canal
•C53.1: Exocervix only; use when tumor is confined to the outer cervical surface
•C53.9: Cervix unspecified; use when the cervical subsite is unknown, not when multiple known sites are involved
•C55: Uterus, part unspecified; if tumor extends from cervix to corpus, determine the primary site per FIGO guidelines