D18.02
BillableHemangioma of intracranial structures
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM (Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026) | CMS-HCC V28 (100% phase-in, PY2026)
Is D18.02 an HCC code?
Yes. D18.02 maps to Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors 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 D18.02
For D18.02 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 D18.02 during that encounter — not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
What This Code Means
D18.02 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for hemangioma of intracranial structures. A benign blood vessel tumor found inside the brain or other structures within the skull. D18.02 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors (d10-d36).
Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, D18.02 maps to Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.251. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, D18.02 maps to Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 12) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.150. 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 imaging confirmation (MRI or CT) of intracranial location before coding. Because D18.02 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 D18.02 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •Verify imaging confirmation (MRI or CT) of intracranial location before coding
- •Monitor for potential neurological symptoms or complications related to location and size
Clinical Significance
Hemangioma of intracranial structures is a benign vascular malformation within the skull, most commonly a cavernous hemangioma (cavernoma) of the brain parenchyma. These lesions carry risk of hemorrhage, seizures, and focal neurological deficits depending on their size and location. While benign, intracranial hemangiomas require ongoing surveillance with serial imaging and may necessitate surgical intervention if symptomatic.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Diagnosis should be supported by characteristic MRI findings showing the classic 'popcorn' appearance or confirmed by pathology if surgically resected.
- ✓Document the exact intracranial location, size, presence of recent hemorrhage, and any associated symptoms (seizures, headaches, focal deficits).
- ✓Note whether the lesion is being managed conservatively or surgically.
Commonly Confused Codes
- •D18.09 (hemangioma of other sites) is for non-intracranial vascular lesions
- •D32.0 (benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges) is for meningeal tumors
- •D33.0/D33.1 (benign neoplasm of brain) covers other benign brain tumors
- •I67.1 (cerebral aneurysm, nonruptured) is a vascular malformation but not a hemangioma.