C44.291 — Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
Is C44.291 billable?
Yes, but C44.291 is an unspecified code. C44.291 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for encounters from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. However, C44.291 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 C44.291 — the more specific alternatives are listed below.
C44.291 at a glance
| Code | C44.291 |
|---|---|
| Description | Other specified malignant neoplasm of skin 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 C44.291 group to?
C44.291 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.
- 606Minor Skin Disorders with MCCmedical
- 607Minor Skin Disorders without MCCmedical
How is C44.291 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
The Alphabetic Index lists these routes under C44.29, the nearest indexed parent of C44.291. Use them to find the family, then select the specific code.
- Adenocarcinoma › ceruminous
- Carcinoma › ceruminous (malignant)
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C44
The conditions below can never be reported together with C44.291 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
Excludes1 — never code together — inherited from C44.2
The conditions below can never be reported together with C44.291 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.
- connective tissue of ear (C49.0)
How long has C44.291 existed?
C44.291 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.