2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C50Malignant neoplasm of breast

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C50›C50

ICD-10-CM C50
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

C50 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for malignant neoplasm of breast, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as C50.011, C50.012, C50.019, and C50.021.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C50
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Malignant neoplasm of breast
Short Description
Malignant neoplasm of breast
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
C50
Malignant neoplasms of breast

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC50Malignant neoplasms of breast
CategoryC50Malignant neoplasm of breast
This CodeC50Malignant neoplasm of breast

Specific Coding for Malignant neoplasm of breastOverview

Non-specific codes like C50 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • C50.0 for Malignant neoplasm of nipple and areola

  • C50.01 for Malignant neoplasm of nipple and areola, female

  • C50.02 for Malignant neoplasm of nipple and areola, male

  • C50.1 for Malignant neoplasm of central portion of breast

  • C50.11 for Malignant neoplasm of central portion of breast, female

  • C50.12 for Malignant neoplasm of central portion of breast, male

  • C50.2 for Malignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of breast

  • C50.21 for Malignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of breast, female

  • C50.22 for Malignant neoplasm of upper-inner quadrant of breast, male

  • C50.3 for Malignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of breast

  • C50.31 for Malignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of breast, female

  • C50.32 for Malignant neoplasm of lower-inner quadrant of breast, male

  • C50.4 for Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of breast

  • C50.41 for Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of breast, female

  • C50.42 for Malignant neoplasm of upper-outer quadrant of breast, male

  • C50.5 for Malignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of breast

  • C50.51 for Malignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of breast, female

  • C50.52 for Malignant neoplasm of lower-outer quadrant of breast, male

  • C50.6 for Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of breast

  • C50.61 for Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of breast, female

  • C50.62 for Malignant neoplasm of axillary tail of breast, male

  • C50.8 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of breast

  • C50.81 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of breast, female

  • C50.82 for Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of breast, male

  • C50.9 for Malignant neoplasm of breast of unspecified site

  • C50.91 for Malignant neoplasm of breast of unspecified site, female

  • C50.92 for Malignant neoplasm of breast of unspecified site, male

  • C50.A for Malignant inflammatory neoplasm of breast

  • Use C50.A0 for Malignant inflammatory neoplasm of unspecified breast

  • Use C50.A1 for Malignant inflammatory neoplasm of right breast

  • Use C50.A2 for Malignant inflammatory neoplasm of left breast

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C50: its own notes plus those printed at 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.

  • connective tissue of breast
  • Paget's disease of breast
  • Paget's disease of nipple

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

  • code to identify estrogen, and other hormones and factors receptor status (Z17.-)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 2 (C00-D49) Neoplasms applies to 1,730 codes
  • 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 C50, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 2

These notes mention C50.

  • Z80.3 Family history of malignant neoplasm of breast
    Conditions classifiable to C50.-
  • Z85.3 Personal history of malignant neoplasm of breast
    Conditions classifiable to C50.-

Excludes1 4

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming C50: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • C49 Malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue
    malignant neoplasm of connective tissue of breast (C50.-)
  • C49.3 Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of thorax
    malignant neoplasm of breast (C50.-)
  • D05 Carcinoma in situ of breast
    malignant neoplasm of breast (C50.-)
  • D05 Carcinoma in situ of breast
    Paget's disease of breast or nipple (C50.-)

Code First 3

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and C50 is one of the conditions named.

  • D75.81 Myelofibrosis
    malignant neoplasm of breast (C50.-)
  • Z17 Estrogen, and other hormones and factors receptor status
    malignant neoplasm of breast (C50.-)
  • Z79.81 Long term (current) use of agents affecting estrogen receptors and estrogen levels
    malignant neoplasm of breast (C50.-)

Code Also 2

These codes say C50 may also be needed to fully describe the condition. The note gives no sequencing direction.

  • D61.82 Myelophthisis
    malignant neoplasm of breast (C50.-)
  • Z91.B Personal risk factor of exposure to diethylstilbestrol
    conditions classifiable to C50.-

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Malignant Breast Neoplasm

    a primary or metastatic malignant neoplasm involving the breast. the vast majority of cases are carcinomas arising from the breast parenchyma or the nipple. malignant breast neoplasms occur more frequently in females than in males.

Patient EducationClinical

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a cancer that starts in breast tissue. It happens when cells in the breast change and grow out of control. New cells grow even when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass called a tumor.

The full article covers:

  • What is breast cancer?
  • What are the types of breast cancer?
  • What causes breast cancer?
  • Who is at risk for breast cancer?
  • What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?
  • How is breast cancer diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for breast cancer?
  • Can breast cancer be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About C50Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for malignant neoplasm of breast?

C50 is the ICD-10-CM category for malignant neoplasm of breast, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is C50 (Malignant neoplasm of breast) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for malignant neoplasm of breast, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for malignant neoplasm of breast need a more specific code from this category, such as C50.011, C50.012, and C50.019.

Can C50 be reported with C44.501?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on C50 lists "skin of breast (C44.501, C44.511, C44.521, C44.591)". 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).

Does C50 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify estrogen, and other hormones and factors receptor status (Z17.-). The additional code is reported after C50.