2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D21Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›D10-D36›D21

ICD-10-CM D21
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

D21 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as D21.0, D21.10, D21.11, and D21.12.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
D21
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue
Short Description
Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
D10-D36
Benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionD10-D36Benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors
CategoryD21Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue
This CodeD21Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue

Specific Coding for Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissueOverview

Non-specific codes like D21 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use D21.0 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck

  • D21.1 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of upper limb, including shoulder

  • Use D21.10 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder

  • Use D21.11 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of right upper limb, including shoulder

  • Use D21.12 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of left upper limb, including shoulder

  • D21.2 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of lower limb, including hip

  • Use D21.20 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of unspecified lower limb, including hip

  • Use D21.21 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of right lower limb, including hip

  • Use D21.22 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of left lower limb, including hip

  • Use D21.3 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of thorax

  • Use D21.4 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of abdomen

  • Use D21.5 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of pelvis

  • Use D21.6 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of trunk, unspecified

  • Use D21.9 for Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to D21: 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.

  • benign neoplasm of blood vessel
  • benign neoplasm of bursa
  • benign neoplasm of cartilage
  • benign neoplasm of fascia
  • benign neoplasm of fat
  • benign neoplasm of ligament, except uterine
  • benign neoplasm of lymphatic channel
  • benign neoplasm of muscle
  • benign neoplasm of synovia
  • benign neoplasm of tendon (sheath)
  • benign stromal tumors

Excludes1

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

  • benign neoplasm of articular cartilage (D16.-)
  • benign neoplasm of cartilage of larynx (D14.1)
  • benign neoplasm of cartilage of nose (D14.0)
  • benign neoplasm of connective tissue of breast (D24.-)
  • benign neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system (D36.1-)
  • benign neoplasm of peritoneum (D20.1)
  • benign neoplasm of retroperitoneum (D20.0)
  • benign neoplasm of uterine ligament, any (D28.2)
  • benign neoplasm of vascular tissue (D18.-)
  • hemangioma (D18.0-)
  • lipomatous neoplasm (D17.-)
  • lymphangioma (D18.1)
  • uterine leiomyoma (D25.-)

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 D21, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming D21: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • D16 Benign neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage
    benign neoplasm of synovia (D21.-)

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and D21 is one of the conditions named.

  • M63 Disorders of muscle in diseases classified elsewhere
    neoplasm (C49.-, C79.89, D21.-, D48.1-)

Patient EducationClinical

Benign Tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths in your body. They can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors aren't cancer. Malignant ones are. Benign tumors grow only in one place. They cannot spread or invade other parts of your body. Even so, they can be dangerous if they press on vital organs, such as your brain.

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 D21Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue?

D21 is the ICD-10-CM category for other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is D21 (Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue need a more specific code from this category, such as D21.0, D21.10, and D21.11.

Can D21 be reported with a code from D16?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on D21 lists "benign neoplasm of articular cartilage (D16.-)". 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).