Skin Cancer ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) is a catalogue of diseases that has entered its tenth edition. Every type of condition, including malignant neoplasm, is assigned a code depending on its origins and location. The coding rules, which the WHO endorses, undergo extensive revisions to improve their usefulness to health practitioners [1].

At the time of writing, the 10th version is the most recent version with over 68,000 codes, which is more than five times the number of codes in ICD-9 (at only 13,000), which allows for greater accuracy for diagnostics and improved care outcomes for patients [2].

All healthcare organizations in the US use this system to assist healthcare providers with diagnostics and provide a more detailed understanding of the patient’s condition. You may also come across ICD-10-CM codes (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification). In essence, there is no difference between ICD-10 and ICD-10-CM since they refer to the same set of diagnostic codes. However, ICD-10-PCS uses different codes that are specific to inpatient coding.

ICD-10 codes are used to classify various types of tumors (“malignant neoplasms”) and secondary or metastasized tumors (“secondary malignant neoplasms”). These will be discussed below.

What is the ICD 10 code for skin cancer?

For primary skin tumors, the general ICD-10 code is C44.0 (malignant neoplasm of skin), whereas, for malignant melanoma of the skin, the ICD-10 code is C43.0 (malignant melanoma of skin) [3].

Primary skin ICD 10 code: C44

Primary skin ICD code C44 lookup

Below is a table of the ICD 10 skin codes for primary skin cancers, which are classified under C44, “malignant neoplasm of skin” [4].

C44: Malignant neoplasm of skin

skin ICD code C44
skin ICD code C44
skin ICD code C44
skin ICD code C44
skin ICD code C44
skin ICD code C44
skin ICD code C44

Types of skin coded under C44

The ICD 10 code C44 does not specify the subtype of skin cancer. A C44 code can be used for skin cancers of various types:

  • Skin cancer of the lip
  • Skin cancer of the eyelid
  • Skin cancer of the upper eyelid
  • Skin cancer of the ear
  • Skin cancer of the nose
  • Skin cancer of the scalp
  • Skin cancer of the neck

In other words, malignant neoplasm of skin ICD 10, skin cancer ICD 10, and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin codes could all be C44 if they are determined to be malignant neoplasms of the skin. As a concrete example, a patient diagnosed with skin cancer of the right upper eyelid, including canthus, would be coded under C44.1021.

Skin cancers excluded from ICD-10 C44

  • Malignant melanoma of the skin of genital organs codified under C51, C52, C60, and C63
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A)
  • Kaposi’s sarcoma of skin (C46.0)
  • Malignant melanoma of the skin (C43.0)

Malignant Melanoma of Skin ICD 10 code: C43

Malignant Melanoma of Skin ICD-10 code C43 lookup

The ICD 10 skin codes for malignant melanoma of skin, or primary melanoma are C43. This codification includes malignant melanoma of the lip (C43.0), malignant melanoma of the left eyelid (C43.12), and malignant melanoma of other and unspecified parts of the face (C43.3).

Conclusion

The ICD-10 code for skin cancer depends on its specific location. Malignant neoplasm falls under ICD-10 C44, whereas malignant melanoma of skin cancers are coded under C43. The ICD-10 may help health practitioners specify the exact type of skin cancer, which may be useful in prescribing the correct treatment plans for the patient.