C70.0
BillableMalignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000V24HCC 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 protective membrane (meninges) surrounding the brain.
Coding Tips
- •Confirm meningeal involvement is documented in pathology or imaging reports
- •Distinguish from meningeal metastases by reviewing primary site documentation
Clinical Significance
Malignant meningioma of the cerebral meninges is a serious intracranial neoplasm arising from the protective membranes of the brain. While most meningiomas are benign (coded under D32), malignant meningiomas (World Health Organization Grade III) are aggressive with high recurrence rates, brain invasion, and significantly worse prognosis, requiring aggressive surgical and radiation treatment.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming malignancy — must be World Health Organization Grade III (anaplastic meningioma) to justify malignant code
- ✓Documentation distinguishing primary meningeal cancer from meningeal carcinomatosis (metastatic spread to meninges)
- ✓Imaging (MRI with contrast) documenting tumor location and extent
- ✓Documentation of cerebral versus spinal meningeal involvement
- ✓Surgical or biopsy findings confirming malignant histology
Commonly Confused Codes
D32.0 — Benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges: World Health Organization Grade I meningiomas are benign — the vast majority fall here; only Grade III is malignantD42.0 — Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cerebral meninges: World Health Organization Grade II (atypical) meningiomas may be coded hereC70.1 — Spinal meninges: cerebral is brain, spinal is spine — confirm which meninges are involvedC79.32 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges: meningeal carcinomatosis from breast, lung, or other primaries uses secondary codes
Code Hierarchy
└C70Malignant neoplasm of meninges└C70.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges
└C70.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges