2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.211Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
C44.211 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 606 through 607. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Skin cancers - basal cell carcinoma.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Basal cell carcinoma of antihelix of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of antitragus
- Basal cell carcinoma of auricle of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of conchal bowl of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of earlobe
- Basal cell carcinoma of external auditory canal
- Basal cell carcinoma of helix of ear
- Basal cell carcinoma of obverse of pinna
- Basal cell carcinoma of pinnal sulcus
- Basal cell carcinoma of postauricular skin
- Basal cell carcinoma of tragus
- Malignant neoplasm of skin of external auditory meatus
- Mass of postauricular region
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] › skin › basal cell carcinoma | C44.21 | – | – | – | – | – |
| earlobe › basal cell carcinoma | C44.21 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › ear (external) › basal cell carcinoma | C44.21 | – | – | – | – | – |
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.
Convert C44.211 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C44.211Overview
Is C44.211 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does C44.211 group to?
When basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 606, 607, with relative weights from 0.9064 to 1.5132 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C44.211?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal converts to ICD-9-CM 173.21 (basal cell ca skin ear). 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.
