2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.222Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
C44.222 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 606 through 607. Coders also document this condition as carcinoma in situ of skin of ear. 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.
- Carcinoma in situ of skin of ear
- Carcinoma in situ of skin of left ear
- Carcinoma in situ of skin of right ear
- Primary squamous cell carcinoma of ear
- Primary squamous cell carcinoma of right ear
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of skin of bilateral ears
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of skin of ear
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of skin of left ear
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ of skin of right ear
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C44.222: its own notes plus those printed at C44.2, C44, and 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.
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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 C44.222, its category, or a range that includes it.
Applicable To 1
These notes mention C44.222.
Excludes1 3
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming C44.222: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- C30.1 Malignant neoplasm of middle earmalignant neoplasm of auricular canal (external) (C43.2-,C44.2-) names C44.2-, which includes this code
- C30.1 Malignant neoplasm of middle earother and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of (external) ear (C44.2-) names C44.2-, which includes this code
- C76 Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sitesmalignant neoplasm of skin (C44.-) names C44.-, which includes this code
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 › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| earlobe › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| skin NOS › ear (external) › squamous cell carcinoma | C44.22 | – | – | – | – | – |
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 C44.222 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C44.222Overview
Is C44.222 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does C44.222 group to?
When squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 607, 606, with relative weights from 0.8772 to 1.5721 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can C44.222 be reported with C49.0?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at C44.2, which applies to C44.222, lists "connective tissue of ear (C49.0)". 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).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C44.222?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal converts to ICD-9-CM 173.22 (squam cell ca skin ear). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
