2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D21.0Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›D10-D36›D21

ICD-10-CM D21.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

D21.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 564 through 566. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Benign neoplasms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
D21.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck
Short Description
Benign neoplasm of connctv/soft tiss of head, face and neck
Parent Code
D21
Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionD10-D36Benign neoplasms, except benign neuroendocrine tumors
CategoryD21Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue
This CodeD21.0Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Apocrine hidrocystoma
  • Apocrine hidrocystoma of eyelid
  • Benign neoplasm of blood vessel of face
  • Benign neoplasm of blood vessel of head
  • Benign neoplasm of blood vessel of neck
  • Benign neoplasm of canthus
  • Benign neoplasm of connective tissue of head and/or neck
  • Benign neoplasm of ear
  • Benign neoplasm of eyelid
  • Benign neoplasm of lacrimal caruncle
  • Benign neoplasm of muscle of face
  • Benign neoplasm of muscle of head
  • Benign neoplasm of muscle of neck
  • Benign neoplasm of soft tissue of head and/or neck
  • Benign neoplasm of soft tissues of face
  • Benign neoplasm of soft tissues of head
  • Benign neoplasm of soft tissues of neck
  • Benign neoplasm of sweat gland
  • Benign neoplasm soft tissue of cervical spine
  • Cervicofacial fibrochondroma
  • Eccrine hidrocystoma
  • Fibroma of scalp
  • Lacrimal caruncle finding
  • Lump in caruncle of eye
  • Neoplasm of blood vessel of face
  • Neoplasm of blood vessel of neck
  • Neoplasm of muscle of face
  • Neoplasm of muscle of head
  • Neoplasm of muscle of neck
  • Nuchal fibroma
  • Subcutaneous mass of neck

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to D21.0: its own notes plus those printed at D21 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.

From D21 Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue applies to 12 codes
  • 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

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Benign neoplasm of connective tissue of ear
  • Benign neoplasm of connective tissue of eyelid

Excludes1

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

On D21.0 itself
  • benign neoplasm of connective tissue of orbit (D31.6-)
From D21 Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue applies to 12 codes
  • 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 D21.0, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 5

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming D21.0: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • D14.0 Benign neoplasm of middle ear, nasal cavity and accessory sinuses
    benign neoplasm of cartilage of ear (D21.0)
  • D16 Benign neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage
    benign neoplasm of connective tissue of ear (D21.0)
  • D16 Benign neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage
    benign neoplasm of connective tissue of eyelid (D21.0)
  • D31 Benign neoplasm of eye and adnexa
    benign neoplasm of connective tissue of eyelid (D21.0)
  • D16 Benign neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage
    benign neoplasm of synovia (D21.-) names D21.-, which includes this code

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and D21.0 is one of the conditions named.

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

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR NEO073
Benign neoplasms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Table of NeoplasmsClinical

Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.

SiteMalig.
Primary		Malig.
Secondary		Ca
in situ		BenignUncertainUnspec.
carotid (artery)C49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] › auricularC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] › ear (external)C49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] › eyelidC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] › pinnaC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › auricle (ear)C49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › cervical regionC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › cheekC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › chinC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › ear (external)C49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › eyelidC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › faceC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › foreheadC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › headC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › neckC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › pterygoid fossaC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › scalpC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › submentalC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › supraclavicular regionC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › templeC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
connective tissue NEC › temporal regionC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] › cartilageC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
eyelid (lower) (skin) (upper) › cartilageC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
fossa (of) › pterygoidC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2
pterygoid fossaC49.0C79.89–D21.0D48.1D49.2

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.

Convert D21.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
215.0 Ben neo soft tissue head
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 D21.0Overview

Is D21.0 (Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does D21.0 group to?

When benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 564, 566, 565, with relative weights from 0.7374 to 1.4909 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can D21.0 be reported with a code from D31.6?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on D21.0 lists "benign neoplasm of connective tissue of orbit (D31.6-)". 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 D21.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck converts to ICD-9-CM 215.0 (ben neo soft tissue head). The mapping is a direct match.