What is ICD-10 code D18.02?

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. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). D18.02 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. D18.02 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. D18.02 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. D18.02 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for D18.02?

CMS phased in the V28 risk adjustment model over payment years 2024 (33%), 2025 (67%), and 2026 (100%), replacing V24. V28 consolidates HCC categories, removes some lower-acuity conditions, and recalibrates RAF weights across the entire model. For D18.02, V28 maps to Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors at RAF 0.186 while V24 mapped to Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors at RAF 0.150. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting D18.02?

Verify imaging confirmation (MRI or CT) of intracranial location before coding Monitor for potential neurological symptoms or complications related to location and size Because D18.02 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.

2026 ICD-10-CM D18.02: Hemangioma of intracranial

ICD-10-CM Code View

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Code lookupD18.02Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors (D10-D36)

D18.02

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

Hemangioma of intracranial structures

A benign blood vessel tumor found inside the brain or other structures within the skull.

Buddy Insight

Hemangioma of intracranial structures is a benign vascular malformation within the skull, most commonly a cavernous hemangioma (cavernoma) of the brain parenchyma.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 23

Prostate, Breast, and Other C...

RAF 0.186

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 12

Breast, Prostate, and Other C...

RAF 0.150

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 12

HHS-HCC 12

Varies by metal level

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 12

Breast, Prostate, and Other C...

RAF 0.045

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 22

Cancer, Other Specified Sites

RAF 0.124

Code Book Path

Official

D18Hemangioma and lymphangioma, any site

D18.0Hemangioma

D18.02Hemangioma of intracranial structures

Inclusion Terms

Official

Angioma NOS
Cavernous nevus

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for D18.02 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

D18.00Hemangioma unspecified site

D18.01Hemangioma of skin and subcutaneous tissue

D18.03Hemangioma of intra-abdominal structures

D18.09Hemangioma of other sites

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for D18.02 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for D18.02 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for D18.02 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for D18.02 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for D18.02 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

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.

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

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.

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Do not confuse intracranial cavernous hemangiomas with cavernous sinus hemangiomas, which may have different anatomical implications.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are coded differently from hemangiomas.

If the hemangioma has bled, additional codes for intracranial hemorrhage may be needed.

An incidental finding still requires coding if documented.

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

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.

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 D18.02 an HCC code?

Yes. D18.02 (Hemangioma of intracranial structures) maps to Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors under V24), with a community non-dual aged RAF of 0.186. It is billable for payment year 2026.

Coder answer: D18.02 is billable and maps to V28 HCC 23, Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors. Open it in the Code Book for the tabular path, RAF, and MEAT checklist.

Code: D18.02
Description: Hemangioma of intracranial structures
HCC (V28): HCC 23 — Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors
RAF: 0.186
Billable: Yes
Payment year: 2026

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 23, Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors

0.186

V24HCC 12, Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors

0.150

ESRDHCC 12, Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors

0.045

RxHCCHCC 22, Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.124

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 D18.02 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

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.

Coder workflow notes

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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 Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.186. 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.