2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.211
Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
- ICD-10-CM Code:
- C44.211
- ICD-10 Code for:
- Basal cell carcinoma skin/ unsp ear and external auric canal
- Is Billable?
- Yes - Valid for Submission
- Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
- Not chronic
- Code Navigator:
C44.211 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
The following anatomical sites found in the Table of Neoplasms reference the parent code C44.21 of the current diagnosis code given the correct histological behavior: Neoplasm, neoplastic ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] skin basal cell carcinoma or Neoplasm, neoplastic earlobe basal cell carcinoma or Neoplasm, neoplastic skin NOS ear (external) basal cell carcinoma .
Unspecified diagnosis codes like C44.211 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.
Approximate Synonyms
The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:
- Basal cell carcinoma of antihelix of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of antitragus
- Basal cell carcinoma of auricle of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of conchal bowl of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of earlobe
- Basal cell carcinoma of external auditory canal
- Basal cell carcinoma of helix of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of obverse of pinna
- Basal cell carcinoma of pinnal sulcus
- Basal cell carcinoma of postauricular skin
- Basal cell carcinoma of tragus
- Mass of postauricular region
Clinical Classification
Clinical Category is Skin cancers - basal cell carcinoma
- CCSR Category Code: NEO026
- Inpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
- Outpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.
Convert C44.211 to ICD-9-CM
- ICD-9-CM Code: 173.21 - Basal cell ca skin ear
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.
Table of Neoplasms
The parent code C44.21 of the current diagnosis code is referenced in the table of neoplasms by anatomical site. For each site there are six possible code numbers according to whether the neoplasm in question is malignant, benign, in situ, of uncertain behavior, or of unspecified nature. The description of the neoplasm will often indicate which of the six columns is appropriate.
Where such descriptors are not present, the remainder of the Index should be consulted where guidance is given to the appropriate column for each morphological (histological) variety listed. However, the guidance in the Index can be overridden if one of the descriptors mentioned above is present.
Neoplasm, neoplastic | Malignant Primary |
Malignant Secondary |
CaInSitu | Benign | Uncertain Behavior |
Unspecified Behavior |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] »skin »basal cell carcinoma | C44.21 | |||||
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »earlobe »basal cell carcinoma | C44.21 | |||||
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »skin NOS »ear (external) »basal cell carcinoma | C44.21 |
Patient Education
Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.
Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who :
- Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
- Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
- Have a family member with skin cancer
- Are over age 50
You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and biologic therapy. PDT uses a drug and a type of laser light to kill cancer cells. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)
Learn about skin cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, staging, and treatment.[Learn More in MedlinePlus]
Code History
- FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
- FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
- FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
- FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
- FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
- FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
- FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
- FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
- FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.