D18.02
BillableHemangioma of intracranial structures
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 23 — Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers
0.251V24HCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.150ESRDHCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.000RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
A benign blood vessel tumor found inside the brain or other structures within the skull.
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 lesionsD32.0 (benign neoplasm of cerebral meninges) is for meningeal tumorsD33.0/D33.1 (benign neoplasm of brain) covers other benign brain tumorsI67.1 (cerebral aneurysm, nonruptured) is a vascular malformation but not a hemangioma.
Code Hierarchy
└D18Hemangioma and lymphangioma, any site└D18.0Hemangioma└D18.02Hemangioma of intracranial structures
└D18.02Hemangioma of intracranial structures