2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D21.0Benign neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face and neck

ICD-10-CM CodesC00–D49D10-D36D21

ICD-10-CM D21.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

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 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) 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
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

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

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

Type 1 Excludes

  • benign neoplasm of connective tissue of orbit D31.6

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

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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

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, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

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, 565, 566, with relative weights from 0.7493 to 1.5436 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

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.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.