C43.20 — Malignant melanoma of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
Is C43.20 billable?
Yes, but C43.20 is an unspecified code. C43.20 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C43.20 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 C43.20 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
C43.20 at a glance
| Code | C43.20 |
|---|---|
| Description | Malignant melanoma of unspecified ear and external auricular canal |
| Billable | Yes |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
Which MS-DRGs does C43.20 group to?
C43.20 sits in MDC 09 and helps define the logic of 2 MS-DRGs (version 44, FY2027). Which one a stay actually groups to also depends on procedures and secondary diagnoses.
- 595Major Skin Disorders with MCCmedical
- 596Major Skin Disorders without MCCmedical
How is C43.20 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under C43.2, the nearest indexed parent of C43.20. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Melanoma › skin › auditory canal (malignant)
- Melanoma › skin › auricle (malignant)
- Melanoma › skin › auricular canal (malignant)
- Melanoma › skin › ear (malignant)
- Melanoma › skin › external meatus (malignant)
- Melanoma › skin › helix (malignant)
- Melanoma › skin › pinna (malignant)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C43
The conditions below can never be reported together with C43.20 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- melanoma in situ (D03.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from C43
The conditions below are not part of C43.20, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, C43.20 and the excluded code may both be reported.
How long has C43.20 existed?
C43.20 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.