C82.56
BillableDiffuse follicle center lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is C82.56 an HCC code?
Yes. C82.56 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Lymphoma and Other Cancers under V24).
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. 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.
MEAT Criteria for C82.56
For C82.56 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 C82.56 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
C82.56 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for diffuse follicle center lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes. This is a type of cancer that starts in the lymph nodes located in the pelvis (lower abdomen). The cancer cells grow slowly and spread throughout the lymph tissue in this area. C82.56 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, C82.56 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.545. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C82.56 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 10) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.675. 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.
Verify the histology is confirmed as diffuse follicle center lymphoma before assigning this code; do not use if the lymphoma type is unspecified or different. Because C82.56 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 C82.56 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify the histology is confirmed as diffuse follicle center lymphoma before assigning this code; do not use if the lymphoma type is unspecified or different
- •Ensure documentation specifies that the intrapelvic lymph nodes are involved; if lymphoma involves multiple sites, assign additional codes for each anatomical location affected
Clinical Significance
Diffuse follicle center lymphoma involving intrapelvic lymph nodes (iliac, obturator, presacral) may be discovered incidentally on imaging or present with pelvic symptoms including pain, ureteral obstruction, or lower extremity edema from venous compression. Pelvic lymphadenopathy requires differentiation from gynecologic or urologic malignancies. Accurate anatomic localization distinguishes intrapelvic nodes from inguinal nodes, which has staging and coding implications.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming diffuse follicle center lymphoma
- ✓Cross-sectional imaging (CT or MRI) identifying specific intrapelvic lymph node groups
- ✓Documentation distinguishing intrapelvic from inguinal or intra-abdominal nodes
- ✓Assessment for ureteral obstruction, venous compression, or nerve involvement
- ✓Staging documentation and assessment of other sites of disease
Commonly Confused Codes
- •C82.55 — Diffuse follicle center lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb: Intrapelvic nodes are deep within the pelvis (iliac chains); inguinal nodes are superficial in the groin
- •C82.53 — Diffuse follicle center lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes: Distinguish the boundary between abdominal and pelvic nodes at approximately the pelvic brim
- •C82.86 — Other types of follicular lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes: Use C82.56 when diffuse follicle center type is specifically confirmed