C75.1
BillableMalignant neoplasm of pituitary gland
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 pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain that controls many hormones in the body.
Coding Tips
- •Pituitary carcinomas are extremely rare; confirm malignant diagnosis and distinguish from benign pituitary adenomas in documentation
- •Document any functional status (hormone-secreting vs. non-secreting) as this impacts clinical management and may require additional codes
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the pituitary gland represents pituitary carcinoma, which is defined by the presence of craniospinal or systemic metastases. This is extremely rare — most pituitary tumors are benign adenomas. Pituitary carcinoma causes hormonal imbalances and may compress the optic chiasm, causing visual field defects. Accurate coding is essential to distinguish this from the much more common benign pituitary adenoma.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming pituitary carcinoma with evidence of metastatic disease (defining criterion)
- ✓Documentation of hormonal hypersecretion or hypopituitarism
- ✓Imaging showing sellar/suprasellar mass and any metastatic disease
- ✓Visual field assessment results
- ✓Current treatment status (surgery, radiation, medical therapy)
Commonly Confused Codes
D35.2 — Benign neoplasm of pituitary gland: Pituitary adenomas are benign and vastly more common than carcinomaD44.3 — Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pituitary gland: Use when malignancy is not confirmedE22.0 — Acromegaly and pituitary gigantism: Hormonal condition from growth hormone excess, usually from benign adenomaE23.0 — Hypopituitarism: May result from pituitary tumor but is a separate endocrine conditionC75.2 — Malignant neoplasm of craniopharyngeal duct: Adjacent sellar region tumor with different origin
Code Hierarchy
└C75Malignant neoplasm of other endocrine glands and related structures└C75.1Malignant neoplasm of pituitary gland
└C75.1Malignant neoplasm of pituitary gland