Find information on Vestibular Schwannoma diagnosis, including clinical documentation, ICD-10 code D33.3, medical coding, healthcare resources, acoustic neuroma, cranial nerve VIII tumor, and cerebellopontine angle tumor. Learn about symptoms, treatment options, and best practices for documenting Vestibular Schwannoma in medical records for accurate billing and coding. This resource offers essential information for healthcare professionals, coders, and patients seeking a deeper understanding of Vestibular Schwannoma.
Also known as
Benign neoplasm of cranial nerves
This code specifically identifies a vestibular schwannoma.
Benign neoplasm of brain
Includes benign tumors of the brain, including cranial nerves.
Malignant neoplasm of cranial nerves
While schwannomas are typically benign, malignant variants exist.
Hearing loss
Vestibular schwannomas can cause hearing problems.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the vestibular schwannoma confirmed?
Yes
Is it specified as acoustic neuroma?
No
Do not code vestibular schwannoma. Code the presenting symptoms or findings.
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Benign tumor on balance nerve |
| Meniere's Disease |
| Acoustic Neuroma |
Incorrect or missing laterality (right, left, bilateral) for Vestibular Schwannoma (D33.3) impacts reimbursement and data accuracy.
Using unspecified codes (e.g., D33.3) when more specific documentation supports D33.30-D33.39 for acoustic neuroma risks claim denials.
Inconsistent coding between pre-operative and post-operative diagnoses for Vestibular Schwannoma can trigger audits and affect quality metrics.
Patient presents with complaints consistent with possible vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma), including unilateral tinnitus, hearing loss (sensorineural hearing loss, SNHL), and balance difficulties, potentially indicative of cranial nerve VIII dysfunction. Onset of symptoms was reported as [gradual/sudden] and progressive over [timeframe]. Patient denies vertigo, pulsatile tinnitus, or otalgia. Physical examination revealed [positive/negative] Romberg test and [describe gait abnormalities if present]. Audiometry testing demonstrated [describe findings, e.g., asymmetric hearing loss, high-frequency hearing loss]. Brain MRI with gadolinium contrast is ordered to evaluate for the presence of an intracranial mass, specifically a vestibular schwannoma at the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). Differential diagnosis includes Meniere's disease, otosclerosis, and other cerebellopontine angle tumors. ICD-10 code D33.3 (Benign neoplasm of cranial nerves) is considered pending MRI confirmation. Treatment options, including observation, microsurgery (e.g., retrosigmoid approach, translabyrinthine approach), stereotactic radiosurgery (e.g., Gamma Knife, CyberKnife), and radiation therapy, will be discussed with the patient upon confirmation of diagnosis and depending on tumor size, growth rate, and hearing preservation goals. Patient education regarding vestibular schwannoma symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options was provided. Follow-up appointment scheduled in [timeframe] to review MRI results and discuss management plan.