C75.4
BillableMalignant neoplasm of carotid body
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 23 — Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers
0.251V24HCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.150ESRDHCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.000RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
A malignant (cancerous) tumor of the carotid body, a small sensory organ located in the neck near the carotid artery that helps regulate blood pressure and oxygen levels.
Coding Tips
- •Carotid body tumors are paragangliomas; confirm malignant behavior in pathology documentation
- •Document laterality (left/right) in the medical record for complete coding
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the carotid body represents a malignant paraganglioma arising from the carotid body chemoreceptor at the carotid bifurcation. Carotid body tumors are typically benign, but approximately 5-10% demonstrate malignant behavior defined by metastatic spread. These tumors present as a painless neck mass and may be associated with familial paraganglioma syndromes.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming malignancy with evidence of metastatic disease (metastasis defines malignancy in paragangliomas)
- ✓Imaging documenting tumor at the carotid bifurcation with characteristic 'splaying' of internal and external carotid arteries
- ✓Documentation of any familial paraganglioma syndrome (SDH gene mutations)
- ✓Functional status — catecholamine-secreting vs. non-functional
- ✓Staging information and metastatic workup results
Commonly Confused Codes
D35.5 — Benign neoplasm of carotid body: Benign carotid body paragangliomas are far more commonD44.6 — Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of carotid body: Use when malignancy is not confirmedC75.5 — Malignant neoplasm of aortic body and other paraganglia: Different paraganglionic sitesC49.0 — Malignant neoplasm of connective tissue of head, face, and neck: Soft tissue sarcomas, not paragangliomasC77.0 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head/neck: Lymph node metastasis from carotid body tumor
Code Hierarchy
└C75Malignant neoplasm of other endocrine glands and related structures└C75.4Malignant neoplasm of carotid body
└C75.4Malignant neoplasm of carotid body