Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert

Question: What is the ICD-10 code for an L5 vertebral hemangioma?

Missouri Subscriber

Answer: The correct diagnosis code for vertebral hemangioma is D18.09 (Hemangioma of other sites). ICD-10 includes specific codes for several types of hemangioma, including skin and subcutaneous tissue, intracranial structures, and intra-abdominal structures. Diagnosis D18.09 is appropriate since you know the anatomic site but it does not fall in one of the specific categories. If your provider had not specified the anatomic site, diagnosis D18.00 (Hemangioma, unspecified site) would be your best choice instead.

FYI: Spinal hemangiomas are the most common benign spinal neoplasms, often located in the thoracic and lumbar spine. When searching for a diagnosis code, first reference the neoplasm table in the Alphabetic Index. According to the guidelines, "if the histological term is documented, that term should be referenced first, rather than going immediately to the neoplasm table, in order to determine which column in the neoplasm table is appropriate." That means you should look up "hemangioma" in the alphabetic index and look at the options for vertebral neoplasms rather than relying on the neoplasm table.