2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C40Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C40-C41›C40

ICD-10-CM C40
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

C40 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as C40.00, C40.01, C40.02, and C40.10.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C40
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs
Short Description
Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
C40-C41
Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC40-C41Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage
CategoryC40Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs
This CodeC40Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs

Specific Coding for Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbsOverview

Non-specific codes like C40 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • C40.0 for Malignant neoplasm of scapula and long bones of upper limb

  • Use C40.00 for Malignant neoplasm of scapula and long bones of unspecified upper limb

  • Use C40.01 for Malignant neoplasm of scapula and long bones of right upper limb

  • Use C40.02 for Malignant neoplasm of scapula and long bones of left upper limb

  • C40.1 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of upper limb

  • Use C40.10 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of unspecified upper limb

  • Use C40.11 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of right upper limb

  • Use C40.12 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of left upper limb

  • C40.2 for Malignant neoplasm of long bones of lower limb

  • Use C40.20 for Malignant neoplasm of long bones of unspecified lower limb

  • Use C40.21 for Malignant neoplasm of long bones of right lower limb

  • Use C40.22 for Malignant neoplasm of long bones of left lower limb

  • C40.3 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of lower limb

  • Use C40.30 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of unspecified lower limb

  • Use C40.31 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of right lower limb

  • Use C40.32 for Malignant neoplasm of short bones of left lower limb

  • C40.8 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of bone and articular cartilage of limb

  • Use C40.80 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of bone and articular cartilage of unspecified limb

  • Use C40.81 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of bone and articular cartilage of right limb

  • Use C40.82 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of bone and articular cartilage of left limb

  • C40.9 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified bones and articular cartilage of limb

  • Use C40.90 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified bones and articular cartilage of unspecified limb

  • Use C40.91 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified bones and articular cartilage of right limb

  • Use C40.92 for Malignant neoplasm of unspecified bones and articular cartilage of left limb

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Use Additional Code

  • code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable M89.7

Patient EducationClinical

Bone Cancer

Cancer that starts in a bone is uncommon. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About C40Overview

Is C40 (Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs need a more specific code from this category, such as C40.00, C40.01, and C40.02.