C79.32
BillableSecondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 17 — Metastatic Cancer and Acute Leukemia
0.368V24HCC 8 — Metastatic Cancer and Acute Leukemia
2.484ESRDHCC 8 — Metastatic Cancer and Acute Leukemia
0.000RxHCCHCC 18 — Metastatic Cancer to Lung and Other Respiratory Sites
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer that has spread to the meninges, which are the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Coding Tips
- •Meningeal metastases (C79.32) differ from brain parenchymal metastases (C79.31); verify documentation specifies meningeal involvement
- •This condition often presents with neurological symptoms and requires prompt treatment; ensure primary cancer site is coded separately
Clinical Significance
Secondary malignant neoplasm of the cerebral meninges, also known as leptomeningeal carcinomatosis or carcinomatous meningitis, indicates cancer has spread to the membranes surrounding the brain. This is a grave prognostic finding with median survival of weeks to months. It commonly occurs in breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma, and requires specialized treatment including intrathecal chemotherapy.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Primary cancer site documented and coded separately
- ✓Cerebrospinal fluid cytology or MRI findings confirming meningeal involvement
- ✓Distinction from brain parenchymal metastases — meningeal versus parenchymal disease
- ✓Neurological symptoms — headache, cranial nerve palsies, radiculopathy, altered mental status
- ✓Treatment approach — intrathecal chemotherapy, radiation, supportive care
Commonly Confused Codes
C79.31 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain; brain parenchymal metastases are different from meningeal involvementC70.0 — Primary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges; primary meningiomas are typically benign (D32.0) or malignant primary tumors, not metastaticC79.49 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system; spinal cord or nerve involvement uses different codesG03.9 — Meningitis, unspecified; infectious meningitis is very different from carcinomatous meningitis
Code Hierarchy
└C79Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified sites└C79.3Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain and cerebral meninges└C79.32Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges
└C79.32Secondary malignant neoplasm of cerebral meninges