2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C08.9Malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C00-C14›C08
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Risk Adjusts — HCC 21
- Chronic Condition
C08.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 11 through 13, 146 through 148. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Head and neck cancers - salivary gland.
For Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, C08.9 maps to CMS-HCC Category 21 (Lymphoma and Other Cancers) under the V28 model, adding a risk factor of about 0.671 for a community, non-dual, aged beneficiary in payment year 2026.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Medicare Risk Adjustment (HCC)Billing
C08.9 maps to a payment category in the CMS-HCC model used to risk-adjust Medicare Advantage payments. Weights are the published community factors for payment year 2026.
Source: CMS Payment Year 2026 risk adjustment mappings and model software. Weights are relative factors, not dollar amounts; a beneficiary's total RAF also includes demographics and interactions. Browse all CMS-HCC categories.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland
- Malignant epithelial neoplasm of salivary gland
- Malignant mixed tumor of salivary gland
- Malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland
- Malignant neoplasm of oral cavity and lip and salivary gland
- Malignant neoplasm of salivary gland
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland
- Neoplasm of oral cavity and lip and salivary gland
- Neoplasm of salivary gland duct
- Overlapping malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland
- Overlapping malignant neoplasm of oral cavity and lip and salivary gland
- Overlapping neoplasm of oral cavity and lip and salivary gland
- Polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma of salivary gland
- Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland
- Primary carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of salivary gland
- Primary malignant mixed tumor of salivary gland
- Primary malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland
- Primary malignant neoplasm of salivary gland duct
- Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of salivary gland
- Primary polymorphous low grade adenocarcinoma of salivary gland
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Malignant neoplasm of salivary gland (major) NOS
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
Adenocarcinoma See Also: Neoplasm, malignant, by site;
unspecified site C08.9
Adenoma See Also: Neoplasm, benign, by site;
carcinoma in See: Neoplasm, salivary gland, malignant;
unspecified site C08.9
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Table of NeoplasmsClinical
Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.
Patient EducationClinical
Salivary Gland Cancer
Your salivary glands make saliva - sometimes called spit - and empty it into your mouth through openings called ducts. Saliva makes your food moist, which helps you chew and swallow. It helps you digest your food. It also cleans your mouth and contains antibodies that can kill germs.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert C08.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C08.9Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified?
The ICD-10-CM code for malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified is C08.9 (sometimes written as C089). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Is C08.9 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does C08.9 group to?
When malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 11, 12, 13, 146, 147, 148, with relative weights from 0.7971 to 5.4541 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C08.9?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 142.8 (mal neo maj salivary NEC) and 142.9 (mal neo salivary NOS). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
What HCC is C08.9?
C08.9 (malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified) maps to CMS-HCC Category 21 (Lymphoma and Other Cancers), commonly written as HCC 21, in the CMS-HCC V28 model used for Medicare Advantage risk adjustment in payment year 2026. It mapped to HCC 11 under the retired V24 model. It also maps in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22), ESRD (V21), and ESRD (V24) models. In the Part D prescription drug model it maps to RxHCC 22.
Does C08.9 risk-adjust for Medicare Advantage payment?
Yes. When documented and reported on a Medicare Advantage encounter, C08.9 adds a risk adjustment factor of about 0.671 to the beneficiary's RAF score for a community, non-dual, aged enrollee (published V28 weights range from 0.493 to 0.739 depending on the payment segment). A more severe related category (HCC 17, HCC 18, HCC 19, and HCC 20) supersedes it when both are reported. See the full factor table on the HCC 21 category page.
