C10.9 — Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx, unspecified

BillableUnspecified

Is C10.9 billable?

Yes, but C10.9 is an unspecified code. C10.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C10.9 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 C10.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.

More specific alternatives

C10.9 at a glance

Code	C10.9
Description	Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx, unspecified
Billable	Yes
Code set	ICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encounters	October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Which MS-DRGs does C10.9 group to?

C10.9 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

Use additional code — inherited from C10

Report an additional code alongside C10.9 to fully describe the condition. C10.9 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 C10

The conditions below are not part of C10.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, C10.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

malignant neoplasm of tonsil (C09.-)

How long has C10.9 existed?

C10.9 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.