Cancer and tumors are made up of the growth of abnormal cells. These cells can be benign—they do not destroy the good cells around them (tumors)—or they can be malignant—they destroy the cells around them (cancers). A “cancerous tumor” is just cancer under our definition.

Code 7901: Toxic thyroid enlargement occurs when a tumor forms and causes the thyroid to produce too many hormones. It is rated as hyperthyroidism under code 7900. If the enlargement of the thyroid causes disfigurement of the neck, then an additional rating can be given under code 7800.

Code 7902: Nontoxic thyroid enlargement occurs when a tumor forms but it does not cause the thyroid to produce too many hormones. If it causes problems from pushing on the organs or bodily systems around it, then it can be rated based on the problems it causes. For example, if it pushes on the esophagus and makes it hard to swallow, then it can be rated as a stricture of the esophagus, code 7203. If it also causes disfigurement of the neck, then it can be given an additional rating under code 7800.

Code 7907: Cushing’s syndrome occurs when there is too much cortisol in the body. Symptoms include rapid weight gain, excessive sweating, bruising easily, weakness, high blood pressure, and more. This condition is most often caused by either a tumor in the pituitary gland (“Cushing’s disease”) or by the prolonged use of steroids to treat other conditions.

If it is an active disease that is getting progressively worse and it causes osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and muscle wasting that makes it impossible to rise from a squatting position or a deep chair, climb stairs, or raise your arms, it is rated 100%.

If it is no longer getting worse, but there is still muscle wasting that makes it impossible to rise from a squatting position or a deep chair, climb stairs, or raise your arms, it is rated 60%.

If it causes obesity, a significantly round face caused by weight gain (“moon face”), stretch marks, fragile veins or arteries, and glucose intolerance (a pre-diabetic condition), it is rated 30%.

These ratings are all given for the first 6 months following diagnosis, afterwhich time any left over symptoms or complications are each rated separately.

Code 7916: Hyperpituitarism occurs when the pituitary gland produces too many hormones because of a tumor or a cancer. If it is caused by a cancer, it is rated under code 7914. If it is caused by a tumor, it is rated under code 7915. The final code will look like this: 7916-7914. The first four-digit code defines the condition as hyperpituitarism, and the second four-digit code tells how it is rated. If 7914 or 7915 guides the rating to another code, then that four-digit code will be added to the end of 7916.

Code 7917: Hyperaldosteronism occurs when the adrenal glands produce too many aldosterone hormones because of a tumor or a cancer. If it is caused by a cancer, it is rated under code 7914. If it is caused by a tumor, it is rated under code 7915. The final code will look like this: 7917-7914. The first four-digit code defines the condition as hyperpituitarism, and the second four-digit code tells how it is rated. If 7914 or 7915 guides the rating to another code, then that four-digit code will be added to the end of 7917.

Code 7918: Pheochromocytoma occurs when the adrenal glands produce too many noradrenaline and adrenaline hormones because of a tumor or a cancer. If it is caused by a cancer, it is rated under code 7914. If it is caused by a tumor, it is rated under code 7915. The final code will look like this: 7918-7914. The first four-digit code defines the condition as hyperpituitarism, and the second four-digit code tells how it is rated. If 7914 or 7915 guides the rating to another code, then that four-digit code will be added to the end of 7918.

Code 7919: C-cell hyperplasia of the thyroid is a condition where the C-cells that produce calcitonin in the thyroid grow abnormally into a cancer. If it is treated with chemotherapy, it is rated under code 7914. If surgery is performed and chemo is not required, then it is rated under code 7903.

Code 7914: Any active cancer of the endocrine system that is not listed above is rated under this code. While it is active, it is rated 100%. This 100% rating will continue for the first 6 months after the last treatment or procedure. It is then reevaluated. If it is no longer active, then any left over symptoms or complications are rated separately on the function they affect. So if the symptoms affect the adrenal gland, then it is rated on the impact they have on that gland.

Code 7915: Any tumor of the endocrine system that is not listed above is rated under this code. There are no set ratings for this code. Any symptoms that the tumor causes are rated separately on the function they affect. So if the symptoms affect the adrenal gland, then it is rated on the impact they have on that gland. The final code for any of these tumors will look like this: 7915-7100. The first four-digit code defines the condition as a tumor of the endocrine system, and the second four-digit code tells how it is rated.