2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.02

Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip

ICD-10-CM Code:
C44.02
ICD-10 Code for:
Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Neoplasms
    (C00–D49)
    • Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin
      (C43-C44)
      • Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin
        (C44)

C44.02 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

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

Approximate Synonyms

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

  • Malignant tumor of commissure of lip
  • Neoplasm of commissure of lip
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of commissure of lip
  • Primary malignant neoplasm of skin of lip
  • Primary squamous cell carcinoma of commissure of lip
  • Primary squamous cell carcinoma of lip
  • Primary squamous cell carcinoma of skin of head and/or neck
  • Primary squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lip
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of lip
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of lower lip
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of upper lip

Clinical Classification

Convert C44.02 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 173.02 - Squamous cell ca skn lip

Table of Neoplasms

This code is referenced 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)
      »squamous cell carcinoma
C44.02     
»Neoplasm, neoplastic
  »skin NOS
    »lip (lower) (upper)
      »squamous cell carcinoma
C44.02     

Patient Education


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


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Learn about skin cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, staging, and treatment.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.