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  5. Malignant neoplasm of gum (C03)

Malignant neoplasm of gum (C03)

The ICD-10 code C03 series is specifically used to classify malignant neoplasms (cancers) of the gum. These codes distinguish between cancers located on the upper gum, lower gum, or gum sites that are unspecified.

Medical coders use C03.0 for malignant tumors of the upper gum, also known by synonyms like "primary carcinoma of upper gum" or "malignant neoplasm of alveolus of maxilla." Similarly, C03.1 identifies cancers in the lower gum, including terms such as "primary carcinoma of lower gum" or "malignant tumor of lower gingiva." When the exact gum location isn't specified, C03.9 applies and covers a range of related conditions including "squamous cell carcinoma of gum," "malignant melanoma of oral cavity," and other primary malignant neoplasms of gingival mucosa. Understanding these distinctions helps healthcare professionals select the precise ICD-10 code for gum cancers, facilitating accurate diagnosis, treatment, and reporting.

Instructional Notations

Includes

This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.

  • malignant neoplasm of alveolar (ridge) mucosa
  • malignant neoplasm of gingiva

Use Additional Code

The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.

  • code to identify:
  • alcohol abuse and dependence F10
  • history of tobacco dependence Z87.891
  • tobacco dependence F17
  • tobacco use Z72.0

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.