C01
BillableMalignant neoplasm of base of tongue
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 21 — Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.545V24HCC 11 — Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers
0.306ESRDHCC 11 — Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers
0.000RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer that develops at the base of the tongue, the area where the tongue connects to the throat.
Coding Tips
- •Base of tongue cancers are often squamous cell carcinomas; verify histology in documentation
- •Ensure this code is not confused with other tongue locations like dorsal or ventral surfaces
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue is a serious cancer often associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in younger patients and tobacco/alcohol use in older patients. Base of tongue cancers are typically diagnosed at advanced stages due to their posterior location and often present with cervical lymph node metastases. Accurate site-specific coding is essential as treatment and prognosis differ by anatomic subsite.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology report confirming malignancy with histologic type (squamous cell carcinoma most common)
- ✓Documentation specifying base of tongue as the primary tumor site
- ✓TNM staging documented (tumor size, nodal involvement, metastasis)
- ✓HPV/p16 status documented (prognostically significant)
- ✓Treatment plan: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or combination
- ✓Active vs historical cancer status clearly documented
Use Additional Code
Commonly Confused Codes
C02.4 (Malignant neoplasm of lingual tonsil) - lingual tonsil is distinct lymphoid tissue at the tongue base; verify exact siteC02.0 (Malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of tongue) - dorsal surface is the anterior two-thirds; base is posterior thirdC09.9 (Malignant neoplasm of tonsil, unspecified) - tonsillar cancer is a separate oropharyngeal site from tongue baseZ85.810 (Personal history of malignant neoplasm of tongue) - use for historical cancer that has been treated and is in remission
Code Hierarchy
└C01Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue
└C01Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue