2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C77.0Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C76-C80›C77
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- CC — Complication or Comorbidity
- Risk Adjusts — HCC 18
- Chronic Condition
C77.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 11 through 13, 820 through 825, 840 through 842. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 24 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Secondary malignancies.
For Medicare Advantage risk adjustment, C77.0 maps to CMS-HCC Category 18 (Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid) under the V28 model, adding a risk factor of about 2.341 for a community, non-dual, aged beneficiary in payment year 2026.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Medicare Risk Adjustment (HCC)Billing
C77.0 maps to a payment category in the CMS-HCC model used to risk-adjust Medicare Advantage payments. Weights are the published community factors for payment year 2026.
Source: CMS Payment Year 2026 risk adjustment mappings and model software. Weights are relative factors, not dollar amounts; a beneficiary's total RAF also includes demographics and interactions. Browse all CMS-HCC categories.
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Metastasis to head and neck lymph node
- Metastasis to lymph node from adenocarcinoma
- Metastatic adenocarcinoma to lymph node of head and/or neck
- Metastatic carcinoma to lymph node of head and neck
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to lymph nodes of face
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to lymph nodes of head
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to lymph nodes of neck
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to occipital lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to parotid lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to preauricular lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to retropharyngeal lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to scalene lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to submandibular lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to submaxillary gland
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to submental lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to supraclavicular lymph nodes
- Metastatic malignant neoplasm to supraclavicular region
- Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of lymph nodes of head and neck
- Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to lymph node
- Neoplasm of lymph node of face
- Neoplasm of occipital lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of parotid lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of preauricular lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of retropharyngeal lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of scalene lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of submandibular lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of submental lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of supraclavicular lymph nodes
- Neoplasm of supraclavicular region
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of supraclavicular lymph nodes
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › auricular (anterior) (posterior) | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › cervical | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › cervicofacial | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › face | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › head | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › jugular | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › mandibular | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › neck | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › occipital | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › parotid | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › preauricular | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › prelaryngeal | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › pretracheal | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › retropharyngeal | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › scalene | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › sublingual | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › submandibular | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › submaxillary | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › submental | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › supraclavicular | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| lymph, lymphatic channel NEC › gland (secondary) › Virchow's | – | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
| Virchow's gland | C77.0 | C77.0 | – | D36.0 | D48.7 | D49.89 |
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Convert C77.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About C77.0Overview
Is C77.0 (Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does C77.0 group to?
When secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 11, 12, 13, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 840, 841, 842, with relative weights from 1.0104 to 5.8648 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Is C77.0 a CC or MCC?
CMS lists C77.0 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2026. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 24 closely related codes in its exclusion list.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C77.0?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck converts to ICD-9-CM 196.0 (mal neo lymph-head/neck). The mapping is a direct match.
What HCC is C77.0?
C77.0 (secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck) maps to CMS-HCC Category 18 (Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid), commonly written as HCC 18, in the CMS-HCC V28 model used for Medicare Advantage risk adjustment in payment year 2026. It mapped to HCC 8 under the retired V24 model. It also maps in the PACE (CMS-HCC V22), ESRD (V21), and ESRD (V24) models. In the Part D prescription drug model it maps to RxHCC 20.
Does C77.0 risk-adjust for Medicare Advantage payment?
Yes. When documented and reported on a Medicare Advantage encounter, C77.0 adds a risk adjustment factor of about 2.341 to the beneficiary's RAF score for a community, non-dual, aged enrollee (published V28 weights range from 1.110 to 2.537 depending on the payment segment). A more severe related category (HCC 17) supersedes it when both are reported. See the full factor table on the HCC 18 category page.
