C08.9 — Malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified
Is C08.9 billable?
Yes, but C08.9 is an unspecified code. C08.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C08.9 is an unspecified or catch-all code. Payers apply additional scrutiny to unspecified codes and many deny them when the medical record supports a more specific option, so check the documentation before selecting C08.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
More specific alternatives
C08.9 at a glance
| Code | C08.9 |
|---|---|
| Description | Malignant neoplasm of major salivary gland, unspecified |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does C08.9 group to?
C08.9 sits in MDC Pre and helps define the logic of 3 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 011Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCCsurgical
- 012Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CCsurgical
- 013Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCCsurgical
How is C08.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to C08.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Adenocarcinoma › basal cell › unspecified site
- Adenoma › pleomorphic › carcinoma in › unspecified site
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to C08.9.
- Malignant neoplasm of salivary gland (major) NOS
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C08
The conditions below can never be reported together with C08.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- malignant neoplasms of specified minor salivary glands which are classified according to their anatomical location
Use additional code — inherited from C08
Report an additional code alongside C08.9 to fully describe the condition. C08.9 is sequenced first.
- code to identify:
- alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)
- exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
- exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
- history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
- occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
- tobacco dependence (F17.-)
- tobacco use (Z72.0)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from C08
The conditions below are not part of C08.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, C08.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has C08.9 existed?
C08.9 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.
Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.