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C82.34 ICD-10-CM Code: Follicular lymphoma grade IIIa, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb

C82.34 maps to CMS-HCC V28 21. A source-labeled RAF reference is available. Confirm the documented diagnosis and applicable coding requirements. MEAT criteria · RAF Calculator · HCC coding software

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Code lookupC82.34

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

C82.34

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

Follicular lymphoma grade IIIa, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb

A type of blood cancer (follicular lymphoma grade IIIa) affecting lymph nodes in the armpits and upper arms. Grade IIIa is a more aggressive form of this cancer.

Buddy the Bee presenting code insight

Buddy Insight

Follicular lymphoma grade IIIa of axillary and upper limb lymph nodes represents a specific high-grade subtype at a commonly involved peripheral site.

CMS-HCC V28

HCC 21

Coefficient HCC 21: 0.671 (Community Non-Dual Aged (CNA))

CMS-HCC V24

Historical

Historical

Not used for CY2026 payment

ACA/HHS

HCC 010

Code-level coefficient reference

ESRD/PACE

HCC 10

Code-level coefficient reference

RXHCC

HCC 21

Code-level coefficient reference

Inclusion Terms

Official

No inclusion terms are included in this display for C82.34. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Excludes 2

Official
  • Kaposi's sarcoma of lymph nodes (C46.3)Inherited from C81-C96
  • secondary and unspecified neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77.-)Inherited from C81-C96
  • secondary neoplasm of bone marrow (C79.52)Inherited from C81-C96
  • secondary neoplasm of spleen (C78.89)Inherited from C81-C96

Includes

Official
  • follicular lymphoma with or without diffuse areasInherited from C82

Excludes 1

Official
  • mature T/NK-cell lymphomas (C84.-)Inherited from C82
  • personal history of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (Z85.72)Inherited from C82

Code First

Official

No Code First sequencing instructions are included in this display for C82.34. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Use Additional

Official

No Use Additional Code instructions are included in this display for C82.34. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Code Also

Official

No Code Also instructions are included in this display for C82.34. Check the code and parent instructions in the Code Book.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
Pathology confirming grade IIIa follicular lymphoma with centrocytes present
Documentation of axillary/upper limb lymph node involvement
Laterality
Ann Arbor staging

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance
Pathology confirming grade IIIa follicular lymphoma with centrocytes present
Documentation of axillary/upper limb lymph node involvement
Laterality
Ann Arbor staging

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance
Defaulting to grade III unspecified instead of IIIa when pathology specifies the subtype
Not rebiopying rapidly enlarging axillary node to exclude transformation to DLBCL
Coding axillary reactive lymphadenopathy (from recent vaccination, infection) as lymphoma recurrence
Using the wrong anatomic site code when supraclavicular nodes are the involved site (head/neck, not axilla)

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance
C82.24 — Grade III unspecified, axilla/upper limb; use C82.34 for confirmed IIIa
C82.44 — Grade IIIb, axilla/upper limb; IIIb lacks centrocytes
C82.14 — Grade II, axilla/upper limb; lower grade
C77.3 — Secondary neoplasm of axillary nodes; for metastatic solid tumors only

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 C82.34 an HCC code?

Yes. C82.34 (Follicular lymphoma grade IIIa, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb) maps to HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, with a source-labeled community non-dual aged reference coefficient of 0.671. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: C82.34 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
C82.34
Description
Follicular lymphoma grade IIIa, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb
HCC (V28)
HCC 21 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers
RAF reference coefficient
0.671
Billable
Yes
Payment year
2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers
0.671
ESRDHCC 10, Lymphoma and Other Cancers
Not separately weighted
RxHCCHCC 21, Lymphomas and Other Hematologic Cancers
Not separately weighted

These are source-labeled model coefficients, not member totals. A category may still be removed by hierarchy or model cleanup rules. 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 context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains available for historical review.

Work C82.34 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF reference, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT review for C82.34

For C82.34, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

  • 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

Coder workflow notes

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What This Code Means

C82.34 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for follicular lymphoma grade iiia, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb. A type of blood cancer (follicular lymphoma grade IIIa) affecting lymph nodes in the armpits and upper arms. Grade IIIa is a more aggressive form of this cancer. C82.34 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, C82.34 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 21) with a source-labeled community, non-dual, aged reference coefficient of 0.671. For CY2026 non-PACE Medicare Advantage, CMS uses 100% of the 2024 CMS-HCC model (V28). PACE uses a separate model blend. Source-labeled code-level coefficients are references, not member totals. Actual contribution depends on complete member context, hierarchy and cleanup rules, interactions, and model year. HCC Buddy's RAF Calculator supports CMS-HCC V28 PY2026 and shows no score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Confirm axillary and upper limb lymph node involvement is documented in imaging or pathology. For C82.34, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule. 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, source-labeled coefficient references, and MEAT documentation criteria for C82.34 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • Confirm axillary and upper limb lymph node involvement is documented in imaging or pathology
  • This site is often detected on physical examination or imaging studies

Clinical Significance

Follicular lymphoma grade IIIa of axillary and upper limb lymph nodes represents a specific high-grade subtype at a commonly involved peripheral site. The IIIa designation (centrocytes present) has treatment implications — some oncologists treat IIIa like indolent lymphoma while others use aggressive chemoimmunotherapy. Axillary disease is readily monitored on physical exam.

Documentation Requirements

  • Pathology confirming grade IIIa follicular lymphoma with centrocytes present
  • Documentation of axillary/upper limb lymph node involvement
  • Laterality
  • Ann Arbor staging
  • Treatment rationale for chosen approach (indolent vs. aggressive management)

Commonly Confused Codes

  • C82.24: Grade III unspecified, axilla/upper limb; use C82.34 for confirmed IIIa
  • C82.44: Grade IIIb, axilla/upper limb; IIIb lacks centrocytes
  • C82.14: Grade II, axilla/upper limb; lower grade
  • C77.3: Secondary neoplasm of axillary nodes; for metastatic solid tumors only

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Also searched as

  • C82 34
  • C8234

For C82.34, confirm that the documentation supports the diagnosis and meets the applicable coding, encounter, program and payer requirements. MEAT (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) is a review mnemonic, not a universal CMS coding rule.

C82.34 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. The mapping identifies a payment HCC category for C82.34. Review its source-labeled HCC coefficient above, check the RAF Calculator with complete member context for CMS-HCC V28 PY2026, and confirm the documentation the chart needs before the code is submitted. HCC Buddy shows no RAF score unless every required source and calculation check passes.

Work C82.34 in HCC Buddy

Open C82.34 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.