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C81.39 ICD-10-CM Code: Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites

C81.39 maps to CMS-HCC V28 21 (RAF 0.671). Documentation must support MEAT. MEAT criteria · RAF calculator · free HCC coding tools

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FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C81-C96)

C81.39

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

Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites

A rare type of Hodgkin lymphoma (lymphocyte depleted variant) affecting organs or tissues outside the lymph node system.

Buddy the Bee presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma involving extranodal and solid organ sites represents the most advanced form of the most aggressive classical Hodgkin subtype.

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 21

RAF 0.671

CMS-HCC V24

HCC 10

RAF 0.675

ACA/HHS

HCC 12

Varies by metal level

ESRD/PACE

HCC 10

RAF 0.111

RXHCC

HCC 21

RAF 0.410

Code Book Path

Official
C81Hodgkin lymphoma
C81.3Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma
C81.39Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites

Inclusion Terms

Official
  • Lymphocyte depleted classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C81.39 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official
C81.30Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site
C81.31Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck
C81.32Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes
C81.33Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes
C81.34Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C81.39 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C81.39 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C81.39 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C81.39 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C81.39 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Pathology confirming lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma
Documentation of specific extranodal organ(s) involved with imaging or biopsy confirmation
Bone marrow biopsy results if marrow involvement is suspected
Stage IV Ann Arbor designation with identified extranodal sites

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
Pathology confirming lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma
Documentation of specific extranodal organ(s) involved with imaging or biopsy confirmation
Bone marrow biopsy results if marrow involvement is suspected
Stage IV Ann Arbor designation with identified extranodal sites

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
Using secondary malignancy codes (C77-C79) for lymphoma organ involvement — all lymphoma sites are coded as primary disease
Coding C81.39 when only the spleen is involved — C81.37 is more specific
Failing to document which specific extranodal organs are involved, weakening the clinical justification for the code
Not recognizing that bone marrow involvement is an extranodal site coded under C81.39

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
C81.37 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen: use C81.37 specifically for splenic involvement; C81.39 is for other extranodal organs
C81.38 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple lymph node sites: C81.38 covers nodal disease in multiple regions; C81.39 covers non-nodal organ involvement
C78.00-C78.09 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung: do not use secondary neoplasm codes for lymphomatous lung involvement — code as primary lymphoma

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 C81.39 an HCC code?

Yes. C81.39 (Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites) maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lymphoma and Other Cancers under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 0.671. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: C81.39 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code
C81.39
Description
Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites
HCC (V28)
HCC 21 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers
RAF
0.671
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.671
V24HCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.675
ESRDHCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.111
RxHCCHCC 21, Hodgkin Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.410

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 C81.39 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for C81.39

For C81.39 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 C81.39 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

C81.39 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for lymphocyte depleted hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites. A rare type of Hodgkin lymphoma (lymphocyte depleted variant) affecting organs or tissues outside the lymph node system. C81.39 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (c81-c96).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C81.39 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.671. Under the older V24 model, C81.39 mapped to the same category but with a base RAF weight of 0.675, V28 recalibrated weights across the entire model. 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.

Use this code when the lymphoma involves solid organs or extranodal sites rather than lymph nodes. Because C81.39 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 C81.39 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Use this code when the lymphoma involves solid organs or extranodal sites rather than lymph nodes
  • Document the specific organ or tissue involved in the medical record for clarity

Clinical Significance

Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma involving extranodal and solid organ sites represents the most advanced form of the most aggressive classical Hodgkin subtype. Organ involvement (liver, lungs, bone, bone marrow) indicates stage IV disease with a guarded prognosis. Treatment is intensive, often requiring modified chemotherapy protocols and close monitoring for treatment toxicities given the already compromised clinical status.

Documentation Requirements

  • Pathology confirming lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Documentation of specific extranodal organ(s) involved with imaging or biopsy confirmation
  • Bone marrow biopsy results if marrow involvement is suspected
  • Stage IV Ann Arbor designation with identified extranodal sites
  • Provider assessment and active treatment documentation during the encounter

Commonly Confused Codes

  • C81.37: Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen: use C81.37 specifically for splenic involvement; C81.39 is for other extranodal organs
  • C81.38: Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple lymph node sites: C81.38 covers nodal disease in multiple regions; C81.39 covers non-nodal organ involvement
  • C78.00-C78.09: Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung: do not use secondary neoplasm codes for lymphomatous lung involvement: code as primary lymphoma

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

C81.39 code history

Code setChange
FY2017 (effective Oct 1, 2016)Description revised

Source: official CMS ICD-10-CM order and addenda files, FY2016 through FY2027.

Because C81.39 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.

C81.39 maps to CMS-HCC V28 category 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers. See the ICD-10 to HCC mapping hub for how the V28 crosswalk works. Because C81.39 carries a payment HCC, you can see what it adds to a RAF score and check the documentation the chart needs before it is submitted.

Work C81.39 in HCC Buddy

Open C81.39 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 7 days to try everything, no card required.