ICD-10-CM Code C44.01

Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip

Version 2021 Billable Code Neoplasm Malignant Primary

Valid for Submission

C44.01 is a billable code used to specify a medical diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip. The code is valid for the fiscal year 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. The ICD-10-CM code C44.01 might also be used to specify conditions or terms like basal cell carcinoma of lower lip or basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip or basal cell carcinoma of upper lip.

The following anatomical sites found in the Table of Neoplasms apply to this code given the correct histological behavior: Neoplasm, neoplastic lip skin (commissure) (lower) (upper) basal cell carcinoma or Neoplasm, neoplastic skin NOS lip (lower) (upper) basal cell carcinoma .

ICD-10:	C44.01
Short Description:	Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip
Long Description:	Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip

Synonyms

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

Basal cell carcinoma of lower lip
Basal cell carcinoma of skin of lip
Basal cell carcinoma of upper lip

Convert C44.01 to ICD-9

173.01 - Basal cell ca skin lip

Code Classification

Neoplasms (C00–D48)
- Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin (C43-C44)
  - Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin (C44)

Code History

FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016
(First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021

Table of Neoplasms

The code C44.01 is included in the table of neoplasms by anatomical site. For each site there are six possible code numbers according to whether the neoplasm in question is malignant, benign, in situ, of uncertain behavior, or of unspecified nature. The description of the neoplasm will often indicate which of the six columns is appropriate.

Where such descriptors are not present, the remainder of the Index should be consulted where guidance is given to the appropriate column for each morphological (histological) variety listed. However, the guidance in the Index can be overridden if one of the descriptors mentioned above is present.

Neoplasm, neoplastic	Malignant Primary	Malignant Secondary	CaInSitu	Benign	Uncertain Behavior	Unspecified Behavior
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »lip »skin (commissure) (lower) (upper) »basal cell carcinoma	C44.01
»Neoplasm, neoplastic »skin NOS »lip (lower) (upper) »basal cell carcinoma	C44.01

Information for Patients

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.

Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who

Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
Have a family member with skin cancer
Are over age 50

You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and biologic therapy. PDT uses a drug and a type of laser light to kill cancer cells. Biologic therapy boosts your body's own ability to fight cancer.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Basal cell carcinoma (Medical Encyclopedia)
Mohs micrographic surgery (Medical Encyclopedia)
Skin lesion biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)
Skin self-exam (Medical Encyclopedia)
Squamous cell skin cancer (Medical Encyclopedia)

[Learn More]

Previous Code: C44.00

Related Codes

Next Code: C44.02