Excludes1 pair

C30.0 vs C72-

C30.0 and C72 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.

The official note, declared on C30.0
malignant neoplasm of olfactory bulb (C72.2-)
C30.0

Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity

Billable
Chapter 2
Neoplasms
Section
C30-C39
Use when the record says
  • Malignant neoplasm of cartilage of nose
  • Malignant neoplasm of nasal concha
  • Malignant neoplasm of internal nose
  • Malignant neoplasm of septum of nose
  • Malignant neoplasm of vestibule of nose
Indexed under
  • Esthesioneuroblastoma
  • Esthesioneurocytoma
  • Esthesioneuroepithelioma
  • Neuroblastoma › olfactory
  • Neuroepithelioma › olfactory
C72

Malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves and other parts of central nervous system

Not billable
Chapter 2
Neoplasms
Section
C69-C72

Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027