2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.121Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
C44.121 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 124 through 125. Coders also document this condition as squamous cell carcinoma of eyelid. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Skin cancers - squamous cell carcinoma.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Squamous cell carcinoma of eyelid
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| canthus (eye) (inner) (outer) › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| eyelid (lower) (skin) (upper) › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| lid (lower) (upper) › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| meibomian gland › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| palpebra › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › canthus (eye) (inner) (outer) › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › eyelid › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › lid (lower) (upper) › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › palpebra › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.12 | – | – | – | – | – |
Patient EducationClinical
Eyelid Disorders
Your eyelids help protect your eyes. When you blink, your eyelids spread moisture over your eyes. Blinking also helps move dirt or other particles off the surface of the eye. You close your eyelids when you see something coming toward your eyes. This can help protect against injuries.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert C44.121 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C44.121Overview
Is C44.121 (Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of eyelid, including canthus) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does C44.121 group to?
When squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 124, 125, with relative weights from 0.7678 to 1.3231 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C44.121?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified eyelid, including canthus converts to ICD-9-CM 173.12 (squam cell ca lid/canth). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
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.
