C25.9 — Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified

BillableUnspecifiedCC

Is C25.9 billable?

Yes, but C25.9 is an unspecified code. C25.9 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C25.9 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 C25.9 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.

More specific alternatives

C25.9 at a glance

Code	C25.9
Description	Malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified
Billable	Yes
Code set	ICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encounters	October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Which MS-DRGs does C25.9 group to?

C25.9 sits in MDC 07 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.

435Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with MCCmedical
436Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with CCmedical
437Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas without CC/MCCmedical

As a secondary diagnosis, C25.9 is a complication or comorbidity (CC), which can move a stay into a higher-paying DRG.

How is C25.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?

These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to C25.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.

Adenocarcinoma › islet cell › with exocrine, mixed › unspecified site
Carcinoma › islet cell › with exocrine, mixed › unspecified site (malignant)

Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C15-C26

The conditions below can never be reported together with C25.9 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

Kaposi's sarcoma of gastrointestinal sites (C46.4)

Use additional code — inherited from C25

Report an additional code alongside C25.9 to fully describe the condition. C25.9 is sequenced first.

code to identify:
alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from C15-C26

The conditions below are not part of C25.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, C25.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

gastrointestinal stromal tumors (C49.A-)

Code also — inherited from C25

Two codes may be needed to describe the condition fully. Whether C25.9 is sequenced first depends on the reason for the encounter.

if applicable exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (K86.81)

How long has C25.9 existed?

C25.9 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.