2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.611Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C43-C44›C44
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
C44.611 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder. 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 basal cell carcinoma of hand. 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 hand
- Basal cell carcinoma of upper extremity
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C44.611: 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 C44.611, its category, or a range that includes it.
Applicable To 1
These notes mention C44.611.
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| skin NOS › limb NEC › upper › basal cell carcinoma | C44.61 | – | – | – | – | – |
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 C44.611 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C44.611Overview
Is C44.611 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does C44.611 group to?
When basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder 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 C44.611 be reported with C46.0?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at C44, which applies to C44.611, 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 C44.611?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder converts to ICD-9-CM 173.61 (basal cell ca skn up lmb). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
