C70.1
BillableMalignant neoplasm of spinal 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 starts in the protective membrane surrounding the spinal cord. This is a malignant tumor of the meninges, which are the layers of tissue that cover and protect the spinal cord.
Coding Tips
- •Ensure documentation specifies that the neoplasm is in the spinal meninges, not the brain meninges (C70.0)
- •Verify histological type and grade when available, as this affects treatment planning and prognosis
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the spinal meninges is rare and represents an aggressive cancer of the protective membrane surrounding the spinal cord. These tumors can cause spinal cord compression, paralysis, and severe neurological deficits. They require neurosurgical intervention and often adjuvant radiation therapy, driving high resource utilization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming malignancy (World Health Organization Grade III for meningioma or other malignant histological type)
- ✓Documentation explicitly identifying spinal meninges as the primary site
- ✓MRI spine documenting tumor location, spinal level, and extent
- ✓Assessment of neurological deficits and spinal cord function
- ✓Distinction from spinal cord tumor (C72.0) versus meningeal tumor
Commonly Confused Codes
C70.0 — Cerebral meninges: spinal is below the foramen magnum, cerebral is above — confirm the levelC72.0 — Spinal cord: meningeal tumors arise from the covering, spinal cord tumors arise from the cord itselfD32.1 — Benign neoplasm of spinal meninges: only code C70.1 for confirmed malignant tumorsC79.49 — Secondary neoplasm of other parts of nervous system: distinguish primary from metastatic disease to spinal meninges
Code Hierarchy
└C70Malignant neoplasm of meninges└C70.1Malignant neoplasm of spinal meninges
└C70.1Malignant neoplasm of spinal meninges