ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group DW10 includes procedures performed to deliver localized radiation therapy using implanted sources in the cranial cavity. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when brachytherapy is performed to treat intracranial neoplasms or other conditions requiring direct placement of radiation sources. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS DW10 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific radiation therapy procedure performed and determines appropriate case mix and payment.

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Cranial Cavity Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Procedures in this group involve placement of radiation sources directly within or adjacent to intracranial structures to deliver targeted radiation therapy to the cranial cavity. These procedures target the anatomical regions body system and use brachytherapy techniques to treat tumors or other radiotherapy indications. Accurate coding of these procedures is important for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the specific therapeutic approach and supports appropriate case mix and payment determination.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
D	Section	Radiation Therapy
W	Body System	Anatomical Regions
1	Operation	Brachytherapy
0	Body Part	Cranial Cavity

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Cranial Cavity Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
D	Section	Radiation Therapy
W	Body System	Anatomical Regions
1	Operation	Brachytherapy
0	Body Part	Cranial Cavity

When to Use

Use a code from this group when radioactive sources are implanted or placed within or adjacent to intracranial tissues as part of a therapeutic radiotherapy plan. These codes apply when the primary operation performed during the inpatient stay is brachytherapy targeting the cranial cavity.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
DW10BB1	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Cranial Cavity using Palladium 103 (Pd-103), Unidirectional Source
DW10BBZ	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Cranial Cavity using Palladium 103 (Pd-103)

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 62-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed solitary, small intracranial meningioma causing progressive focal neurological deficits is admitted for planned localized therapy after multidisciplinary tumor board consensus. The patient undergoes implantation of low dose rate radioactive seeds directly into the tumor bed via a cranial approach to deliver targeted brachytherapy while sparing surrounding brain tissue. Typical codes: DW10BB1, DW10BBZ
A 45-year-old patient with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme previously treated with external beam radiation is scheduled for salvage localized therapy to control a symptomatic recurrent focus in the cranial cavity; the procedure is elective but urgent given progressive symptoms. The medical team places palladium-103 low dose rate seeds within and adjacent to the recurrent intracranial lesion to provide concentrated radiation to the tumor while minimizing additional whole-brain exposure. Typical codes: DW10BB1, DW10BBZ
An 70-year-old patient develops increased intracranial mass effect from a partially treated intracranial tumor and requires inpatient intervention for palliation; during the admission, previously implanted brachytherapy seeds are adjusted or additional low dose rate palladium-103 sources are placed to improve local control and symptom relief. Typical codes: DW10BBZ, DW10BB1

Related Codes

DW11-HEAD-AND-NECK-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW12-CHEST-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW13-ABDOMEN-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Abdomen: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW16-PELVIC-REGION-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvic Region: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1K-UPPER-BACK-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Back: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1L-LOWER-BACK-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Back: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1P-GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Gastrointestinal Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1Q-RESPIRATORY-TRACT-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Respiratory Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1R-GENITOURINARY-TRACT-BRACHYTHERAPY-GENITOURINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Genitourinary Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1X-UPPER-EXTREMITY-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 11

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
DW10BB1	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Cranial Cavity using Palladium 103 (Pd-103), Unidirectional Source
DW10BBZ	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Cranial Cavity using Palladium 103 (Pd-103)

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 62-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed solitary, small intracranial meningioma causing progressive focal neurological deficits is admitted for planned localized therapy after multidisciplinary tumor board consensus. The patient undergoes implantation of low dose rate radioactive seeds directly into the tumor bed via a cranial approach to deliver targeted brachytherapy while sparing surrounding brain tissue. Typical codes: DW10BB1, DW10BBZ
A 45-year-old patient with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme previously treated with external beam radiation is scheduled for salvage localized therapy to control a symptomatic recurrent focus in the cranial cavity; the procedure is elective but urgent given progressive symptoms. The medical team places palladium-103 low dose rate seeds within and adjacent to the recurrent intracranial lesion to provide concentrated radiation to the tumor while minimizing additional whole-brain exposure. Typical codes: DW10BB1, DW10BBZ
An 70-year-old patient develops increased intracranial mass effect from a partially treated intracranial tumor and requires inpatient intervention for palliation; during the admission, previously implanted brachytherapy seeds are adjusted or additional low dose rate palladium-103 sources are placed to improve local control and symptom relief. Typical codes: DW10BBZ, DW10BB1

Related Codes

DW11-HEAD-AND-NECK-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW12-CHEST-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW13-ABDOMEN-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Abdomen: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW16-PELVIC-REGION-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pelvic Region: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1K-UPPER-BACK-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Back: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1L-LOWER-BACK-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Back: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1P-GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Gastrointestinal Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1Q-RESPIRATORY-TRACT-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Respiratory Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1R-GENITOURINARY-TRACT-BRACHYTHERAPY-GENITOURINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-PCS Code For Genitourinary Tract: Procedure Code Group Overview

DW1X-UPPER-EXTREMITY-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Extremity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 11

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Cranial Cavity Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Cranial Cavity: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Cranial Cavity Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS code group covers brachytherapy of the cranial cavity?

What procedures are described in the Cranial Cavity brachytherapy group?

Which specific ICD-10-PCS codes are listed in this group?

What are the code attributes for the DW10 cranial cavity group?

Why is accurate coding within the DW10 group important for inpatient settings?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-PCS code group covers brachytherapy of the cranial cavity?

What procedures are described in the Cranial Cavity brachytherapy group?

Which specific ICD-10-PCS codes are listed in this group?

What are the code attributes for the DW10 cranial cavity group?

Why is accurate coding within the DW10 group important for inpatient settings?

References