2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44

ICD-10-CM C44
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

C44 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as C44.00, C44.01, C44.02, and C44.09.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C44
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin
Short Description
Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
C43-C44
Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC43-C44Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin
CategoryC44Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin
This CodeC44Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin

Specific Coding for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skinOverview

Non-specific codes like C44 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • C44.0 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of lip

  • Use C44.00 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of lip

  • Use C44.01 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip

  • Use C44.02 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip

  • Use C44.09 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of lip

  • C44.1 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of eyelid, including canthus

  • C44.10 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of eyelid, including canthus

  • C44.11 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of eyelid, including canthus

  • C44.12 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of eyelid, including canthus

  • C44.13 for Sebaceous cell carcinoma of skin of eyelid, including canthus

  • C44.19 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of eyelid, including canthus

  • C44.2 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of ear and external auricular canal

  • C44.20 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of ear and external auricular canal

  • C44.21 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal

  • C44.22 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal

  • C44.29 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of ear and external auricular canal

  • C44.3 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of other and unspecified parts of face

  • C44.30 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of other and unspecified parts of face

  • C44.31 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of other and unspecified parts of face

  • C44.32 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of other and unspecified parts of face

  • C44.39 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of other and unspecified parts of face

  • C44.4 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck

  • Use C44.40 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck

  • Use C44.41 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck

  • Use C44.42 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck

  • Use C44.49 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck

  • C44.5 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of trunk

  • C44.50 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of trunk

  • C44.51 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of trunk

  • C44.52 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of trunk

  • C44.59 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of trunk

  • C44.6 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of upper limb, including shoulder

  • C44.60 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of upper limb, including shoulder

  • C44.61 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of upper limb, including shoulder

  • C44.62 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of upper limb, including shoulder

  • C44.69 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of upper limb, including shoulder

  • C44.7 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of lower limb, including hip

  • C44.70 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of lower limb, including hip

  • C44.71 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lower limb, including hip

  • C44.72 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lower limb, including hip

  • C44.79 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of lower limb, including hip

  • C44.8 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of skin

  • Use C44.80 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of skin

  • Use C44.81 for Basal cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin

  • Use C44.82 for Squamous cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin

  • Use C44.89 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of skin

  • C44.9 for Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, unspecified

  • Use C44.90 for Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, unspecified

  • Use C44.91 for Basal cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified

  • Use C44.92 for Squamous cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified

  • Use C44.99 for Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C44: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 2. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • malignant neoplasm of sebaceous glands
  • malignant neoplasm of sweat glands

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)
  • malignant melanoma of skin (C43.-)
  • malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.2)
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 2 (C00-D49) Neoplasms applies to 1,730 codes
  • Functional activity
  • All neoplasms are classified in this chapter, whether they are functionally active or not. An additional code from Chapter 4 may be used, to identify functional activity associated with any neoplasm.
  • Morphology [Histology]
  • Chapter 2 classifies neoplasms primarily by site (topography), with broad groupings for behavior, malignant, in situ, benign, etc. The Table of Neoplasms should be used to identify the correct topography code. In a few cases, such as for malignant melanoma and certain neuroendocrine tumors, the morphology (histologic type) is included in the category and codes.
  • Primary malignant neoplasms overlapping site boundaries
  • A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion'), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
  • Malignant neoplasm of ectopic tissue
  • Malignant neoplasms of ectopic tissue are to be coded to the site mentioned, e.g., ectopic pancreatic malignant neoplasms are coded to pancreas, unspecified (C25.9).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name C44, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention C44.

  • Z85.828 Personal history of other malignant neoplasm of skin
    Conditions classifiable to C44

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming C44: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • C76 Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites
    malignant neoplasm of skin (C44.-)

Patient EducationClinical

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.

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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About C44Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin?

C44 is the ICD-10-CM category for other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is C44 (Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin need a more specific code from this category, such as C44.00, C44.01, and C44.02.

Can C44 be reported with C46.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on C44 lists "Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).