Malignant melanoma of skin (C43) ICD-10-CM
The C43 code range covers malignant melanoma of skin with 33 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 24 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
- melanoma in situ D03
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Codes in the C43 Range 33 codes · 24 billable
- C43 Malignant melanoma of skinNon-billable
- C43.0 Malignant melanoma of lip
- C43.1 Malignant melanoma of eyelid, including canthusNon-billable
- C43.10 Malignant melanoma of unspecified eyelid, including canthus
- C43.11 Malignant melanoma of right eyelid, including canthusNon-billable
- C43.111 Malignant melanoma of right upper eyelid, including canthus
- C43.112 Malignant melanoma of right lower eyelid, including canthus
- C43.12 Malignant melanoma of left eyelid, including canthusNon-billable
- C43.121 Malignant melanoma of left upper eyelid, including canthus
- C43.122 Malignant melanoma of left lower eyelid, including canthus
- C43.2 Malignant melanoma of ear and external auricular canalNon-billable
- C43.20 Malignant melanoma of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
- C43.21 Malignant melanoma of right ear and external auricular canal
- C43.22 Malignant melanoma of left ear and external auricular canal
- C43.3 Malignant melanoma of other and unspecified parts of faceNon-billable
- C43.30 Malignant melanoma of unspecified part of face
- C43.31 Malignant melanoma of nose
- C43.39 Malignant melanoma of other parts of face
- C43.4 Malignant melanoma of scalp and neck
- C43.5 Malignant melanoma of trunkNon-billable
- C43.51 Malignant melanoma of anal skin
- C43.52 Malignant melanoma of skin of breast
- C43.59 Malignant melanoma of other part of trunk
- C43.6 Malignant melanoma of upper limb, including shoulderNon-billable
- C43.60 Malignant melanoma of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder
- C43.61 Malignant melanoma of right upper limb, including shoulder
- C43.62 Malignant melanoma of left upper limb, including shoulder
- C43.7 Malignant melanoma of lower limb, including hipNon-billable
- C43.70 Malignant melanoma of unspecified lower limb, including hip
- C43.71 Malignant melanoma of right lower limb, including hip
- C43.72 Malignant melanoma of left lower limb, including hip
- C43.8 Malignant melanoma of overlapping sites of skin
- C43.9 Malignant melanoma of skin, unspecified
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the C43 range.
Anal Melanoma
A melanoma that arises from the anus.
Cutaneous Melanoma
A primary melanoma arising from atypical melanocytes in the skin. Precursor lesions include acquired and congenital melanocytic nevi, and dysplastic nevi. Several histologic variants have been recognized, including superficial spreading melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma, nodular melanoma, and lentigo maligna melanoma.
Eyelid Melanoma
A melanoma that arises from the upper or lower eyelid.
Melanoma
A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445)
About the C43 Code Range
Malignant melanoma of the skin begins in atypical skin cells called melanocytes.
The subdivisions follow where the melanoma occurs: the lip, eyelid, ear, face, scalp and neck, trunk, or a limb. Eyelid codes distinguish right from left and upper from lower. Ear and limb codes also distinguish right from left.
Face codes separate the nose from other or unspecified facial areas. Trunk codes separate anal skin, breast skin, and other trunk sites. C43.8 identifies overlapping skin sites, while C43.9 leaves the skin site unspecified.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the C43 range?
Of the 33 codes in this range, 24 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the C43 range classify?
The range classifies malignant melanoma of skin. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
