2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C14.0Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C00-C14›C14
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Risk Adjusts — HCC 21
- Chronic Condition
C14.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of pharynx, 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 - pharyngeal.
For Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, C14.0 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
C14.0 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.
- Carcinoma of pharynx
- Malignant melanoma of mucous membrane
- Malignant neoplasm of ear, nose, and/or throat
- Malignant neoplasm of lateral pharyngeal space
- Malignant neoplasm of pharynx
- Malignant neoplasm of posterior pharynx
- Mass of parapharyngeal space
- Primary malignant melanoma of mucous membrane of pharynx
- Primary malignant neoplasm of ear, nose AND/OR throat
- Primary malignant neoplasm of pharynx
- Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of pharynx
- Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of respiratory organ
- Primary squamous cell carcinoma of pharynx
- Squamous cell carcinoma of pharynx
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.
| Site | Malig. Primary | Malig. Secondary | Ca in situ | Benign | Uncertain | Unspec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pharynx, pharyngeal | C14.0 | C79.89 | D00.08 | D10.9 | D37.05 | D49.0 |
| pharynx, pharyngeal › region | C14.0 | C79.89 | D00.08 | D10.9 | D37.05 | D49.0 |
| pharynx, pharyngeal › wall (lateral) (posterior) | C14.0 | C79.89 | D00.08 | D10.9 | D37.05 | D49.0 |
| retropharyngeal | C14.0 | C79.89 | D00.08 | D10.9 | D37.05 | D49.0 |
| throat | C14.0 | C79.89 | D00.08 | D10.9 | D37.05 | D49.0 |
Patient EducationClinical
Throat Cancer
Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Throat cancer has different names, depending on which part of the throat is affected. The different parts of your throat are called the oropharynx, the hypopharynx, the nasopharynx, and the larynx, or voice box.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert C14.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C14.0Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified?
The ICD-10-CM code for malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified is C14.0 (sometimes written as C140). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Is C14.0 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does C14.0 group to?
When malignant neoplasm of pharynx, 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 C14.0?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 149.0 (mal neo pharynx NOS). The mapping is a direct match.
What HCC is C14.0?
C14.0 (malignant neoplasm of pharynx, 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. It does not map to any RxHCC in the Part D prescription drug model.
Does C14.0 risk-adjust for Medicare Advantage payment?
Yes. When documented and reported on a Medicare Advantage encounter, C14.0 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.
