2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C43.70

Malignant melanoma of unspecified lower limb, including hip

ICD-10-CM Code:
C43.70
ICD-10 Code for:
Malignant melanoma of unspecified lower limb, including hip
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Neoplasms
    (C00–D49)
    • Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin
      (C43-C44)
      • Malignant melanoma of skin
        (C43)

C43.70 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of malignant melanoma of unspecified lower limb, including hip. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like C43.70 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.

The code is linked to some Quality Measures as part of Medicare's Quality Payment Program (QPP). When this code is used as part of a patient's medical record the following Quality Measures might apply: Melanoma Reporting.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Malignant melanoma of ankle
  • Malignant melanoma of foot
  • Malignant melanoma of foot
  • Malignant melanoma of hip
  • Malignant melanoma of knee
  • Malignant melanoma of knee
  • Malignant melanoma of lower leg
  • Malignant melanoma of popliteal fossa area
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of ankle
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of foot
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of hip
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of knee
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of lower leg
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of lower limb
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of popliteal area
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of thigh
  • Malignant melanoma of skin of toe
  • Malignant melanoma of thigh
  • Malignant melanoma of toe
  • Malignant neoplasm of skin of lower leg
  • Malignant neoplasm of skin of popliteal fossa area
  • Malignant neoplasm of soft tissue of toe
  • Neoplasm of skin of ankle
  • Neoplasm of skin of lower leg
  • Neoplasm of skin of popliteal area
  • Neoplasm of skin of thigh
  • Neoplasm of skin of toe

Clinical Classification

Convert C43.70 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 172.7 - Malig melanoma leg
    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.

Quality Payment Program Measures

When code C43.70 is part of the patient's diagnoses the following Quality Measures apply and affect reimbursement. The objective of Medicare's Quality Measures is to improve patient care by making it more: effective, safe, efficient, patient-centered and equitable.

Quality Measure Description Quality Domain Measure Type High Priority Submission Methods
Melanoma ReportingPathology reports for primary malignant cutaneous melanoma that include the pT category, thickness, ulceration and mitotic rate, peripheral and deep margin status and presence or absence of microsatellitosis for invasive tumors.Communication and Care CoordinationProcessYESClaims, Registry

Patient Education


Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. Often the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, color, or feel of a mole. Most melanomas have a black or black-blue area. Melanoma may also appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or "ugly looking."

Thinking of "ABCDE" can help you remember what to watch for:

  • Asymmetry - the shape of one half does not match the other
  • Border - the edges are ragged, blurred or irregular
  • Color - the color is uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan
  • Diameter - there is a change in size, usually an increase
  • Evolving - the mole has changed over the past few weeks or months

Surgery is the first treatment of all stages of melanoma. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation, biologic, and targeted therapies. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells.

NIH: National Cancer Institute


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Melanoma Summary

Learn about melanoma risk factors, symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, staging, and treatment.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Skin Cancer (Including Melanoma)-Patient Version

Learn about melanoma risk factors, 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] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.