What is ICD-10 code C72.32?

C72.32 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve. A malignant (cancerous) tumor of the left optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries visual information from the left eye to the brain. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C72.32 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C72.32 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. C72.32 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. C72.32 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 C72.32?

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 C72.32, V28 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers at RAF 1.136 while V24 mapped to Lymphoma and Other Cancers at RAF 0.675. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting C72.32?

This code specifies the left side; use C72.31 for right side and verify laterality in documentation Optic nerve tumors may present with vision loss; ensure proper documentation of affected side Because C72.32 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.

2026 ICD-10-CM C72.32: Malignant neoplasm of left

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

Code lookupC72.32Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system (C69-C72)

C72.32

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

Malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve

A malignant (cancerous) tumor of the left optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries visual information from the left eye to the brain.

Buddy Insight

Malignant neoplasm of the left optic nerve specifies cancer of cranial nerve II on the left side.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 20

Lung and Other Severe Cancers

RAF 1.136

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 10

Lymphoma and Other Cancers

RAF 0.675

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 9

HHS-HCC 9

Varies by metal level

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 10

Lymphoma and Other Cancers

RAF 0.111

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 22

Cancer, Other Specified Sites

RAF 0.124

Code Book Path

Official

C72Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system

C72.3Malignant neoplasm of optic nerve

C72.32Malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C72.32 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C72.32 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

C72.30Malignant neoplasm of unspecified optic nerve

C72.31Malignant neoplasm of right optic nerve

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C72.32 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C72.32 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C72.32 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C72.32 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C72.32 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology or definitive imaging confirming malignancy of the left optic nerve

Histological type from pathology report

Visual function assessment of the left eye

Imaging documenting tumor extent and relationship to optic chiasm

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology or definitive imaging confirming malignancy of the left optic nerve

Histological type from pathology report

Visual function assessment of the left eye

Imaging documenting tumor extent and relationship to optic chiasm

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Selecting right-sided code instead of left — always cross-reference with imaging and surgical notes

Using unspecified code when left side is clearly documented

Coding a benign optic pathway glioma as malignant without pathological confirmation

Not querying when documentation is ambiguous about which nerve is involved

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

C72.31 — Malignant neoplasm of right optic nerve: Laterality reversal; confirm left side

C72.30 — Malignant neoplasm of unspecified optic nerve: Use C72.32 when left side is documented

C69.62 — Malignant neoplasm of left orbit: Orbital tumor, not specific to optic nerve

H47.012 — Optic neuritis, left eye: Inflammatory, not neoplastic

Current with CMS: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr 1 update (effective Apr 1 – Sep 30, 2026) · CMS-HCC V28, 100% phased in for payment year 2026. FY2027 code set already staged for October 1, 2026. How HCC Buddy stays current →

Is C72.32 an HCC code?

Yes. C72.32 (Malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve) maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lymphoma and Other Cancers under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 1.136. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: C72.32 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 20, Lung and Other Severe Cancers. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code: C72.32
Description: Malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve
HCC (V28): HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
RAF: 1.136
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 20, Lung and Other Severe Cancers

1.136

V24HCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.675

ESRDHCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.111

RxHCCHCC 22, Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.124

Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. 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.

Work C72.32 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for C72.32

For C72.32 to 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 C72.32 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable page: confirm a code's V28 HCC status, its RAF weight, and the MEAT your note needs to make it stick. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

What This Code Means

C72.32 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of left optic nerve. A malignant (cancerous) tumor of the left optic nerve, which is the nerve that carries visual information from the left eye to the brain. C72.32 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system (c69-c72).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C72.32 maps to Lung and Other Severe Cancers (HCC 20) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 1.136. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C72.32 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 10) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.675. 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.

This code specifies the left side; use C72.31 for right side and verify laterality in documentation. Because C72.32 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 C72.32 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•This code specifies the left side; use C72.31 for right side and verify laterality in documentation
•Optic nerve tumors may present with vision loss; ensure proper documentation of affected side

Clinical Significance

Malignant neoplasm of the left optic nerve specifies cancer of cranial nerve II on the left side. This carries the same clinical gravity as right-sided disease, with potential for vision loss and intracranial extension. Left-sided specification is critical for radiation planning to protect the contralateral eye and optic apparatus.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology or definitive imaging confirming malignancy of the left optic nerve
✓Histological type from pathology report
✓Visual function assessment of the left eye
✓Imaging documenting tumor extent and relationship to optic chiasm
✓Treatment status and management plan

Commonly Confused Codes

•C72.31: Malignant neoplasm of right optic nerve: Laterality reversal; confirm left side
•C72.30: Malignant neoplasm of unspecified optic nerve: Use C72.32 when left side is documented
•C69.62: Malignant neoplasm of left orbit: Orbital tumor, not specific to optic nerve
•H47.012: Optic neuritis, left eye: Inflammatory, not neoplastic