C02.0

Billable

Malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of tongue

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 21 — Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors

0.545

V24HCC 11 — Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.306

ESRDHCC 11 — Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.000

RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.000

What This Code Means

Cancer of the top surface of the tongue.

Coding Tips

•Dorsal surface refers to the upper/back surface of the tongue; confirm location in clinical notes
•This is distinct from the ventral (underside) surface coded as C02.2

Clinical Significance

Malignant neoplasm of the dorsal surface of the tongue affects the top surface of the anterior two-thirds (oral tongue). This is distinct from base of tongue cancers in its embryologic origin, staging system, treatment approach, and prognosis. Dorsal surface cancers are less common than lateral border cancers and are typically associated with tobacco use, alcohol, and betel nut chewing.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology confirming malignant neoplasm with histologic type
✓Documentation specifying dorsal surface (top/back of oral tongue) as the primary site
✓TNM staging for oral cavity cancer (different staging than oropharyngeal cancer)
✓Tumor size and depth of invasion documented (depth >5mm affects staging)
✓Treatment plan documented
✓Confirmation of active disease vs history of cancer

Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately

malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of base of tongue (C01)

Commonly Confused Codes

C01 (Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue) - base is posterior third (oropharynx); dorsal surface is anterior two-thirds (oral cavity)C02.2 (Malignant neoplasm of ventral surface of tongue) - ventral is the underside, dorsal is the top C02.1 (Malignant neoplasm of border of tongue) - lateral borders are separate from the dorsal surface C02.3 (Anterior two-thirds, part unspecified) - use only when the specific surface is not documented

Code Hierarchy

└C02Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue └C02.0Malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of tongue

└C02.0Malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of tongue