2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.40Unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Chronic Condition
C44.40 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck. 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 of skin of head/neck. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Skin cancers - all other types.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Carcinoma of skin of head/neck
- Malignant neoplasm of scalp
- Malignant neoplasm of scalp and/or skin of neck
- Malignant neoplasm of skin head and neck
- Malignant neoplasm of skin of temple
- Primary malignant neoplasm of skin head and neck
- Primary malignant neoplasm of skin of neck
- Primary malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp
- Primary malignant neoplasm of skin of temporal region
- Primary malignant neoplasm of soft tissues of neck
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C44.40: its own notes plus those printed at 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 C44.40, its category, or a range that includes it.
Applicable To 1
These notes mention C44.40.
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| neck NEC › skin | C44.40 | – | – | – | – | – |
| scalp | C44.40 | C79.2 | D04.4 | D23.4 | D48.5 | D49.2 |
| skin NOS › cervical region [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, neck] | C44.40 | C79.2 | D04.4 | D23.4 | D48.5 | D49.2 |
| skin NOS › head NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, scalp] | C44.40 | C79.2 | D04.4 | D23.4 | D48.5 | D49.2 |
| skin NOS › neck | C44.40 | C79.2 | D04.4 | D23.4 | D48.5 | D49.2 |
| skin NOS › scalp | C44.40 | C79.2 | D04.4 | D23.4 | D48.5 | D49.2 |
| skin NOS › supraclavicular region [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, neck] | C44.40 | C79.2 | D04.4 | D23.4 | D48.5 | D49.2 |
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 C44.40 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C44.40Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck?
The ICD-10-CM code for unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck is C44.40 (sometimes written as C4440). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is C44.40 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does C44.40 group to?
When unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck 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 C44.40 be reported with C46.0?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at C44, which applies to C44.40, lists "Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)". 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 C44.40?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of scalp and neck converts to ICD-9-CM 173.40 (mal neo sclp/skn nck NOS). The mapping is a direct match.
