D44.7
BillableNeoplasm of uncertain behavior of aortic body and other paraganglia
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 tumor of uncertain behavior that develops in the aortic body or other small hormone-producing glands scattered throughout the body.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code when the paraganglia tumor location is aortic body or other specified paraganglia
- •Distinguish from D44.9 which is used when the endocrine gland location is unspecified
Clinical Significance
Neoplasms of uncertain behavior of the aortic body and other paraganglia encompass extra-adrenal paragangliomas arising from chromaffin or non-chromaffin cells along the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. These tumors may be functional (catecholamine-secreting) or non-functional, and approximately 10-15% can be malignant, warranting the uncertain behavior designation.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation should specify the paraganglia site (aortic body, jugulotympanic, retroperitoneal, or other location) and whether the tumor is functional.
- ✓Catecholamine levels (metanephrines, catecholamines) should be documented for functional tumors.
- ✓Genetic testing for familial paraganglioma syndromes should be noted when performed.
Commonly Confused Codes
D44.6 (uncertain behavior of carotid body) is used specifically for carotid body paragangliomas.E27.5 (adrenomedullary hyperfunction) may be coded additionally for functional tumors.D35.6 (benign neoplasm of aortic body) is used when pathology confirms benign behavior.C75.5 (malignant neoplasm of aortic body) is the malignant counterpart.
Code Hierarchy
└D44Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of endocrine glands└D44.7Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of aortic body and other paraganglia
└D44.7Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of aortic body and other paraganglia