C02.3
BillableMalignant neoplasm of anterior two-thirds of tongue, part unspecified
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 of the front two-thirds of the tongue when the exact surface location is not specified.
Coding Tips
- •Use this code when documentation indicates anterior tongue but does not specify dorsal, ventral, or border
- •This is a less specific code; request clarification if the exact surface can be determined
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of anterior two-thirds of tongue, part unspecified, is used when documentation confirms cancer of the oral tongue but does not specify the exact surface (dorsal, ventral, or border). This less-specific code should prompt a documentation query, as the specific subsite affects surgical approach and prognosis.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology confirming malignancy of the oral tongue
- ✓Documentation placing the tumor in the anterior two-thirds (oral tongue) vs posterior third (base)
- ✓Provider query documented regarding specific surface involvement
- ✓Staging and treatment plan documented
- ✓Active malignancy confirmed
Commonly Confused Codes
C02.0 (Dorsal surface) - use when top surface is specifiedC02.1 (Border of tongue) - use when lateral margin is specifiedC02.2 (Ventral surface) - use when undersurface is specifiedC01 (Base of tongue) - base is posterior third, not anterior two-thirdsC02.9 (Tongue, unspecified) - even less specific; does not indicate anterior vs posterior
Code Hierarchy
└C02Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue└C02.3Malignant neoplasm of anterior two-thirds of tongue, part unspecified
└C02.3Malignant neoplasm of anterior two-thirds of tongue, part unspecified