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

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group DW21 includes procedures performed to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery to anatomical regions in the head and neck. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when focused high-dose radiation therapy is administered to treat lesions, tumors, or other targets in the head and neck. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS DW21 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Head And Neck Stereotactic Radiosurgery Procedure Overview

This code group covers stereotactic radiosurgery procedures targeting the head and neck anatomical regions within the radiation therapy section of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS). These procedures deliver highly focused radiation to lesions in the head and neck, sparing surrounding tissues. Accurate coding of these stereotactic radiosurgery procedures ensures inpatient records reflect the precise treatment delivered and supports appropriate inpatient reimbursement and case mix assignment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
D	Section	Radiation Therapy
W	Body System	Anatomical Regions
2	Operation	Stereotactic Radiosurgery
1	Body Part	Head and Neck

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

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Head And Neck Stereotactic Radiosurgery Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
D	Section	Radiation Therapy
W	Body System	Anatomical Regions
2	Operation	Stereotactic Radiosurgery
1	Body Part	Head and Neck

When to Use

Use codes from this group when stereotactic radiosurgery is performed to treat a lesion, tumor, or other target located in the head and neck during an inpatient stay. Select the specific ICD-10-PCS code that matches the stereotactic radiosurgery procedure details and the precise head and neck anatomical target.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
DW21DZZ	Stereotactic Other Photon Radiosurgery of Head and Neck
DW21HZZ	Stereotactic Particulate Radiosurgery of Head and Neck
DW21JZZ	Stereotactic Gamma Beam Radiosurgery of Head and Neck

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
040	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with MCC
041	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with CC or Peripheral Neurostimulator
042	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures without CC/MCC
628	Other Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic O.R. Procedures with MCC
629	Other Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic O.R. Procedures with CC
630	Other Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic O.R. Procedures without CC/MCC
823	Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures with MCC
824	Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures with CC
825	Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures without CC/MCC
829	Myeloproliferative Disorders or Poorly Differentiated Neoplasms with Other Procedures with CC/MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult with a solitary metastatic brain lesion located at the skull base adjacent to cranial nerves is admitted for inpatient management after neurologic symptoms including focal weakness and cranial neuropathy. Neurosurgery and radiation oncology determine that focused external beam photon-based stereotactic radiosurgery provides the best chance to control the lesion while minimizing injury to surrounding cranial structures. The procedure is performed using stereotactic targeting and high-dose photon beams to ablate the lesion in one session during the inpatient stay. Typical codes: DW21DZZ
A middle-aged patient with a small, well-demarcated primary nasopharyngeal tumor is admitted for a planned definitive single-session radiosurgery as part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan. The intent is high-precision, high-dose particulate beam delivery to the tumor while sparing adjacent soft tissues and critical structures in the head and neck. The inpatient procedure uses stereotactic particle (proton or other particulate) radiosurgery technology to target the lesion. Typical codes: DW21HZZ
A patient previously treated with conventional fractionated radiotherapy for a recurrent skull base chordoma is admitted for salvage treatment after imaging shows a small recurrent focus. Because prior external beam dose constraints limit further broad-field radiation, stereotactic gamma beam radiosurgery is chosen to deliver a focal high dose to the recurrent target while minimizing reirradiation of surrounding structures. The procedure is delivered in a focused stereotactic gamma beam session during the inpatient stay. Typical codes: DW21JZZ

Related Codes

DW22-CHEST-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY

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

DW23-ABDOMEN-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY

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

DW26-PELVIC-REGION-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY

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

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

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
DW21DZZ	Stereotactic Other Photon Radiosurgery of Head and Neck
DW21HZZ	Stereotactic Particulate Radiosurgery of Head and Neck
DW21JZZ	Stereotactic Gamma Beam Radiosurgery of Head and Neck

DRG Codes

12 rows

DRG Code	Description
040	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with MCC
041	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures with CC or Peripheral Neurostimulator
042	Peripheral, Cranial Nerve and Other Nervous System Procedures without CC/MCC
628	Other Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic O.R. Procedures with MCC
629	Other Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic O.R. Procedures with CC
630	Other Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic O.R. Procedures without CC/MCC
823	Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures with MCC
824	Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures with CC
825	Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures without CC/MCC
829	Myeloproliferative Disorders or Poorly Differentiated Neoplasms with Other Procedures with CC/MCC

Showing 1–10 of 12

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult with a solitary metastatic brain lesion located at the skull base adjacent to cranial nerves is admitted for inpatient management after neurologic symptoms including focal weakness and cranial neuropathy. Neurosurgery and radiation oncology determine that focused external beam photon-based stereotactic radiosurgery provides the best chance to control the lesion while minimizing injury to surrounding cranial structures. The procedure is performed using stereotactic targeting and high-dose photon beams to ablate the lesion in one session during the inpatient stay. Typical codes: DW21DZZ
A middle-aged patient with a small, well-demarcated primary nasopharyngeal tumor is admitted for a planned definitive single-session radiosurgery as part of a multidisciplinary treatment plan. The intent is high-precision, high-dose particulate beam delivery to the tumor while sparing adjacent soft tissues and critical structures in the head and neck. The inpatient procedure uses stereotactic particle (proton or other particulate) radiosurgery technology to target the lesion. Typical codes: DW21HZZ
A patient previously treated with conventional fractionated radiotherapy for a recurrent skull base chordoma is admitted for salvage treatment after imaging shows a small recurrent focus. Because prior external beam dose constraints limit further broad-field radiation, stereotactic gamma beam radiosurgery is chosen to deliver a focal high dose to the recurrent target while minimizing reirradiation of surrounding structures. The procedure is delivered in a focused stereotactic gamma beam session during the inpatient stay. Typical codes: DW21JZZ

Related Codes

DW22-CHEST-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY

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

DW23-ABDOMEN-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY

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

DW26-PELVIC-REGION-STEREOTACTIC-RADIOSURGERY

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

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 Head And Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Head And Neck Stereotactic Radiosurgery Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

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

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Head And Neck: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Head And Neck Stereotactic Radiosurgery Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group DW21?

What is the primary purpose of coding procedures to ICD-10-PCS group DW21?

Under which ICD-10-PCS section and operation do DW21 codes fall?

How do DW21 codes relate to DRG assignment?

Which specific DW21 code corresponds to gamma beam radiosurgery of the head and neck?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group DW21?

What is the primary purpose of coding procedures to ICD-10-PCS group DW21?

Under which ICD-10-PCS section and operation do DW21 codes fall?

How do DW21 codes relate to DRG assignment?

Which specific DW21 code corresponds to gamma beam radiosurgery of the head and neck?

References