Skip to main content

C78.89 vs D49.0

C78.89 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of other digestive organs) compared with D49.0 (Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system), from the official CMS tabular data. C78.89 and D49.0 name the same anatomical site (ampulla of vater) with a different neoplasm behavior. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Informational

Neoplasm table relationship

C78.89
Secondary malignant neoplasm of other digestive organs
D49.0
Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system

Same anatomical site, different neoplasm behavior.

Same site — unspecified behavior (ampulla of vater)

The behavior documented for the site — malignant primary, secondary, carcinoma in situ, benign, uncertain or unspecified — decides which column of the neoplasm table, and therefore which code, applies.

Source: CMS Table of Neoplasms

Can these codes be reported together?

Same site, different neoplasm behavior. C78.89 and D49.0 name the same anatomical site (ampulla of vater) with a different neoplasm behavior.

From the CMS Table of Neoplasms: the behavior documented for that site — malignant primary, secondary, carcinoma in situ, benign, uncertain or unspecified — decides which column, and therefore which code, applies.

Side by side

C78.89Secondary malignant neoplasm of other digestive organsD49.0Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationC00-D49 — NeoplasmsC00-D49 — Neoplasms
DefinitionSecondary malignant neoplasm of other digestive organs is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (C78.89).Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D49.0).
Includes
'growth' NOS
neoplasm NOS
new growth NOS
tumor NOS

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources