ICD10
ICD-10 Code C71: Malignant neoplasm of brain
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 21 May 2026
What is this code?
ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Neoplasms (C00-D49).
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents malignant neoplasm of brain in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.
What it does not mean
- A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
- A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
- This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.
Code hierarchy
chapter
2Neoplasms (C00-D49)
block
C00-C96Malignant neoplasms
block
C00-C75Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary (of specified sites), and certain specified histologies, except neuroendocrine, and of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue
block
C69-C72Malignant neoplasms of eye, brain and other parts of central nervous system
currentC69-C72
Official coding notes
Excludes1 (do not code together)
- malignant neoplasm of cranial nerves (C72.2-C72.5)
- retrobulbar malignant neoplasm (C69.6-)
Where you may see this code
You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.
Related specialists
OncologistGeneral PhysicianNeurologist
Related codes
C71.0Malignant neoplasm of cerebrum, except lobes and ventriclescodeC71.1Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobecodeC71.2Malignant neoplasm of temporal lobecodeC71.3Malignant neoplasm of parietal lobecodeC71.4Malignant neoplasm of occipital lobecodeC71.5Malignant neoplasm of cerebral ventriclecodeC71.6Malignant neoplasm of cerebellumcodeC71.7Malignant neoplasm of brain stemcodeC71.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of braincodeC71.9Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecifiedcode
Sibling codes
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.
Legacy codes
C71
Replacement codes
C71.0 — Malignant neoplasm of cerebrum, except lobes and ventriclesC71.1 — Malignant neoplasm of frontal lobeC71.2 — Malignant neoplasm of temporal lobeC71.3 — Malignant neoplasm of parietal lobeC71.4 — Malignant neoplasm of occipital lobeC71.5 — Malignant neoplasm of cerebral ventricleC71.6 — Malignant neoplasm of cerebellumC71.7 — Malignant neoplasm of brain stemC71.8 — Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of brainC71.9 — Malignant neoplasm of brain, unspecified
Common synonyms
Malignant neoplasm of brain
Frequently asked questions
About this content
This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.