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C Codes
This section reviews each of the major sections of the C codes. Each of the tables below will have the ICD-10-CM code and the description. The use of “-“(e.g., C00.-), means that there are subcategory codes.
- Neoplasm of Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharynx (C00-C14)
- Neoplasm of Digestive Organs (C15-C26)
- Neoplasm of Respiratory System and Intrathoracic Organs (C30-C39)
- Neoplasm of Mesothelial and Soft Tissue (C45)
- Neoplasm of Bones, Joints and Articular Cartilage (C40-C41)
- Neoplasm of Skin (Melanoma, Merkel Cell, and Other Skin Histologies) (C43, C44, C4a)
- Kaposi Sarcoma (46)
- Neoplasm of Peripheral Nerves and Autonomic nervous system, Retroperitoneum, Peritoneum, and Soft Tissues (C47, C48, C49)
- Neoplasm of Breast and Female Genital Organs (C50 - C58)
- Neoplasm of Male Genital Organs (C60-C63)
- Neoplasm of Urinary Tract (C64-C68)
- Neoplasms of Eye, Brain and Other Parts of the Central Nervous System (C69-C72)
- Neoplasm of Thyroid, Other Endocrine Glands, and Ill-defined Sites (C73-C76)
- Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors (C7a._)
- Secondary Neuroendocrine Tumors (C7B)
- Neoplasm of other and ill- defined sites (C76-80)
- Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77)
- Secondary Cancers of respiratory and digestive organs, other and unspecified sites (C78-80)
- Malignant Neoplasm without specification of site (C80)
- Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C81-C96)
Neoplasm of Lip, Oral Cavity and Pharynx (C00-C14)
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C00.- | Malignant neoplasm of lip |
| C01 | Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue |
| C02.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue |
| C03.- | Malignant neoplasm of gum |
| C04.- | Malignant neoplasm of floor of mouth |
| C05.- | Malignant neoplasm of palate |
| C06.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of mouth |
| C07 | Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland |
| C08.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified major salivary glands |
| C09.- | Malignant neoplasm of tonsil |
| C10.- | Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx |
| C11.- | Malignant neoplasm of nasopharynx |
| C12 | Malignant neoplasm of pyriform sinus |
| C13.- | Malignant neoplasm of hypopharynx |
| C14.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity and pharynx |
Neoplasm of Digestive Organs (C15-C26)
Esophagus (C15.3-C15.9)
Unlike previous medical coding schemes, ICD-10-CM only recognizes 3 specific subsites (plus overlapping and unspecified) of the esophagus rather than 6.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C15.3 | Malignant neoplasm of upper third of esophagus |
| C15.4 | Malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus |
| C15.5 | Malignant neoplasm of lower third of esophagus |
| C15.8 | Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of esophagus |
| C15.9 | Malignant neoplasm of esophagus, unspecified |
Liver (C22.0)
For liver cancers, there are eight codes in the ICD-10-CM, with 6 of the codes designating a specified histology.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C22.0 | Liver cell carcinoma |
| C22.1 | Intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma |
| C22.2 | Hepatoblastoma |
| C22.3 | Angiosarcoma of liver |
| C22.4 | Other sarcomas |
| C22.7 | Other specified carcinomas of liver |
| C22.8 | Malignant neoplasm of liver, primary, unspecified as to type |
| C22.9 | Malignant neoplasm of liver, not specified as primary or secondary |
The table below shows the rest of the digestive organs.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C16.- | Malignant neoplasm of stomach |
| C17.- | Malignant neoplasm of small intestine |
| C18.- | Malignant neoplasm of colon |
| C19 | Malignant neoplasm of rectosigmoid junction |
| C20 | Malignant neoplasm of rectum |
| C21.- | Malignant neoplasm of anus and anal canal |
| C22.1 | Malignant neoplasm of intrahepatic bile duct |
| C23 | Malignant neoplasm of gallbladder |
| C24.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of biliary tract |
| C25.- | Malignant neoplasm of pancreas |
| C26.- | Malignant neoplasm of other ill-defined digestive organs Note: Includes Spleen (C26.1) and intestine NOS |
Neoplasm of Respiratory System and Intrathoracic Organs (C30-C39)
Note: Lung has laterality codes (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C30.- | Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity and middle ear |
| C31.- | Malignant neoplasm of accessory sinuses |
| C32.- | Malignant neoplasm of larynx |
| C33 | Malignant neoplasm of trachea |
| C34.- | Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung Example: C34.11 – Malignant neoplasm of upper lobe, right bronchus or lung |
| C37 | Malignant neoplasm of thymus |
| C38.- | Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum and pleura |
| C39.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory and intrathoracic organs |
Neoplasm of Mesothelial and Soft Tissue (C45)
For mesothelial and soft tissue cancers, there are 5 codes in the ICD-10-CM with 4 of the codes designating the location of the mesothelioma.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C45.0 | Mesothelioma of pleura |
| C45.1 | Mesothelioma of peritoneum |
| C45.2 | Mesothelioma of pericardium |
| C45.7 | Mesothelioma of other sites |
| C45.9 | Mesothelioma, unspecified |
Neoplasm of Bones, Joints and Articular Cartilage (C40-C41)
Note: Bone (C40 only) has laterality codes (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C40.- | Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs Example: C40.21 – Malignant neoplasm of long bones of right lower limb |
| C41.- | Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of other and unspecified sites |
Neoplasm of Skin (Melanoma, Merkel Cell, and Other Skin Histologies) (C43, C44, C4a)
There are three main categories for skin neoplasms in ICD-10-CM. C43 is for malignant melanomas, C4a for Merkel cell carcinoma and C44 for other and unspecified malignant neoplasms of skin. Laterality codes apply to many of the skin sites (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C43.- | Malignant melanoma of skin Example: C43.12 – Malignant melanoma of left eyelid, including canthus |
| C4a.- | Merkel cell carcinoma Example: C4A.71 – Merkel cell carcinoma of right lower limb, including hip |
| C44.- | Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin |
Kaposi Sarcoma (46)
For Kaposi sarcoma, there are 8 codes in the ICD-10-CM. The codes breakdown the site of the Kaposi sarcoma.
Lung (C46.5) has laterality codes (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left)
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C46.0 | Kaposi’s sarcoma of skin |
| C46.1 | Kaposi’s sarcoma of soft tissue |
| C46.2 | Kaposi’s sarcoma of palate |
| C46.3 | Kaposi’s sarcoma of lymph nodes |
| C46.4 | Kaposi’s sarcoma of gastrointestinal sites |
| C46.5- | Kaposi’s sarcoma of lung |
| C46.7 | Kaposi’s sarcoma of other sites |
| C46.9 | Kaposi’s sarcoma, unspecified |
Neoplasm of Peripheral Nerves and Autonomic nervous system, Retroperitoneum, Peritoneum, and Soft Tissues (C47, C48, C49)
C47.1, C47.2, C49.1, and C49.2 have laterality codes (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C47.- | Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomous nervous system Example: C47.10 – Malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder |
| C48.- | Malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum |
| C49.0-C49.9 | Malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue |
| C49.A | Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors |
Neoplasm of Breast and Female Genital Organs (C50 - C58)
Breast codes for ICD-10-CM include sex along with laterality. The 5th character is the sex code, while the 6th character is the laterality code. Since the 5th character designates the sex, the breast cancer codes are applicable for both men and women.
Note: ICD-10-CM uses “2” for males and “1” for females.
Ovary has laterality codes which are included within a four-digit code.
C57.0, C57.1, and C57.2 have laterality codes (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C50.- | Malignant neoplasm of breast Examples: C50.412 - Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant, of left female breast AND C50.422 - Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant, of left male breast |
| C51.- | Malignant neoplasm of vulva |
| C52 | Malignant neoplasm of vagina |
| C53.- | Malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri |
| C54.- | Malignant neoplasm of corpus uteri |
| C55 | Malignant neoplasm of uterus, part unspecified |
| C56.- | Malignant neoplasm of ovary Example: C56.1 – Malignant neoplasm of right ovary |
| C57.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified female genital organs Example: C57.00 - Malignant neoplasm of unspecified fallopian tube |
| C58 | Malignant neoplasm of placenta |
Neoplasm of Male Genital Organs (C60-C63)
C62.0, C62.1, C62.9, C63.0, and C63.1 have laterality codes (0 = unspecified, 1 = right, 2 = left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C60.- | Malignant neoplasm of penis |
| C61 | Malignant neoplasm of prostate |
| C62.- | Malignant neoplasm of testis Example: C62.11 – Malignant neoplasm of descended right testis |
| C63.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified male genital organs Example: C63.12 – Malignant neoplasm of left spermatic cord |
Neoplasm of Urinary Tract (C64-C68)
C64, C65, and C66 have laterality codes (1 = right, 2 = left, 9 = unspecified). For these sites, the laterality code is the 4th character.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C64.- | Malignant neoplasm of kidney Example: C64.1 – Malignant neoplasm of right kidney, except renal pelvis |
| C65.- | Malignant neoplasm of renal pelvis Example: C65.2 – Malignant neoplasm of left renal pelvis |
| C66.- | Malignant neoplasm of ureter Example: C66.9 – Malignant neoplasm of unspecified ureter |
| C67.- | Malignant neoplasm of bladder |
| C68.- | Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified urinary organs |
Neoplasms of Eye, Brain and Other Parts of the Central Nervous System (C69-C72)
All the eye subcategories have laterality codes (0=unspecified, 1=right, 2=left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C69.- | Malignant neoplasm of eye and adnexa Example: C69.41 – Malignant neoplasm of right ciliary body |
| C70.- | Malignant neoplasm of meninges |
| C71.- | Malignant neoplasm of brain |
| C72.- | Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves, and other parts of the central nervous system |
Neoplasm of Thyroid, Other Endocrine Glands, and Ill-defined Sites (C73-C76)
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C73 | Malignant neoplasm of thyroid gland |
| C74.- | Malignant neoplasm of adrenal gland |
| C75.- | Malignant neoplasm of other endocrine glands and related structures |
| C76.- | Malignant neoplasms of other and ill-defined sites |
Malignant Neuroendocrine Tumors (C7a._)
ICD-10-CM has a specific category for neuroendocrine tumors.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C7A.00 | Malignant carcinoid tumors of unspecified site |
| C7A.01- | Malignant carcinoid tumors of the small intestine |
| C7A.02- | Malignant carcinoid tumors of the appendix, large intestine, and rectum |
| C7A.09 | Malignant carcinoid tumors of other sites |
| C7A.1 | Malignant poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors |
| C7A.8 | Other malignant neuroendocrine tumors |
Secondary Neuroendocrine Tumors (C7B)
ICD-10-CM has specific category for secondary neuroendocrine tumors.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C7B.0- | Secondary carcinoid tumors |
| C7B.02 | Secondary carcinoid tumors of liver |
| C7B.03 | Secondary carcinoid tumors of bone |
| C7B.04 | Secondary carcinoid tumors of peritoneum |
| C7B.09 | Secondary carcinoid tumors of other sites |
| C7B.1 | Secondary Merkel cell carcinoma |
| C7B.8 | Other secondary neuroendocrine tumors |
Neoplasm of other and ill- defined sites (C76-80)
All the limb subcategories have laterality codes (0=unspecified, 1=right, 2=left).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C76.0 | Malignant neoplasm of head, face and neck |
| C76.1 | Malignant neoplasm of thorax |
| C76.2 | Malignant neoplasm of abdomen |
| C76.3 | Malignant neoplasm of pelvis |
| C76.4- | Malignant neoplasm of upper limb |
| C76.5- | Malignant neoplasm of lower limb |
| C76.8 | Malignant neoplasm of other specified ill-defined sites |
Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77)
C77 indicates involvement of lymph nodes and is frequently a secondary code. In the example provided here, there is a left UOQ female breast cancer patient with positive lymph nodes coded using ICD-10-CM - 50.412 code and the appropriate lymph node code, which is C77.3, Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of axilla and upper limb lymph nodes.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C50.412 | Primary Breast, UOQ, Female, Left |
| C77.3 | Secondary, Malignant Neoplasm Axilla and Upper Limb Lymph Nodes |
Secondary Cancers of respiratory and digestive organs, other and unspecified sites (C78-80)
Secondary neoplasms are those that are not the primary. Many of these include metastatic disease and may be coded in addition to the primary neoplasm code.
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C78.- | Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs Example: C78.01 – Secondary malignant neoplasm of right lung |
| C79.- | Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified site Example: C79.31 – Secondary malignant neoplasm of brain and cerebral meninges |
Malignant Neoplasm without specification of site (C80)
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C80.0 | Disseminated malignant neoplasm, unspecified Example: Carcinomatosis, NOS |
| C80.1 | Malignant (primary) neoplasm, unspecified |
| C80.2 | Malignant neoplasm associated with transplanted organ |
Malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C81-C96)
Both the lymphomas and leukemias have fifth characters. For lymphoma, the 5th character designates the location while for the leukemias and other hematopoietic diseases, the 5th character designates disease status (remission, relapse).
| ICD-10-CM Code | ICD-10-CM Description |
|---|---|
| C81.- | Hodgkin Lymphoma |
| C82.- | Follicular [Nodular] Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma |
| C83.- | Non-follicular lymphomas |
| C84.- | Mature T/NK-cell lymphoma |
| C85.- | Other Unspecified B-cell lymphomas |
| C86.- | Other specified T/NK-cell lymphomas |
| C88.- | Malignant immunoproliferative diseases and certain other B-cell lymphomas |
| C90.- | Multiple myeloma and malignant plasma cell neoplasms |
| C91.- | Lymphoid leukemias |
| C92.- | Myeloid leukemias |
| C93.- | Monocytic leukemias |
| C94.- | Other leukemias of specified cell type |
| C95.- | Leukemias of unspecified cell type |
| C96.- | Other and unspecified malignant neoplasms of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue |
Updated: December 3, 2018