What is ICD-10 code C07?

C07 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland. Cancer that starts in the parotid gland, which is the largest salivary gland located in front of and below the ear. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C07 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C07 is part of the FY2026 ICD-10-CM code set published by the CMS National Center for Health Statistics and used on Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial claims in the United States.

Yes. C07 is a payment HCC under the CMS risk adjustment model. Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model it maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.671. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model it maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers at RAF 0.307. V28 reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition. HCC Buddy maintains the V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weight, and MEAT documentation criteria for C07 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC model files.

Yes. C07 is a billable ICD-10-CM code that can be reported on professional and institutional claims as a primary or secondary diagnosis when the provider documentation supports the specific condition described. Billable codes in ICD-10-CM are coded to the highest level of specificity available for the documented diagnosis. C07 is current for fiscal year 2026 and remains in the active CMS ICD-10-CM code set published by the National Center for Health Statistics.

What is the V28 vs V24 difference for C07?

CMS phased in the V28 risk adjustment model over payment years 2024 (33%), 2025 (67%), and 2026 (100%), replacing V24. V28 consolidates HCC categories, removes some lower-acuity conditions, and recalibrates RAF weights across the entire model. For C07, V28 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers at RAF 0.671 while V24 mapped to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers at RAF 0.307. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting C07?

Confirm laterality (left or right parotid) is documented for complete coding Note that parotid gland cancers may require additional codes for metastases or complications Because C07 maps to a payment HCC, the documentation must also satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's risk adjustment score.

C07: Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland — ICD-10 | Lymphoma and Other Cancers, Colorectal

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

Code lookupC07Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (C00-C14)

C07

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland

Cancer that starts in the parotid gland, which is the largest salivary gland located in front of and below the ear.

Buddy Insight

Malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland is the most common major salivary gland cancer, accounting for approximately 80% of salivary gland malignancies.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 21

Lymphoma and Other Cancers

RAF 0.671

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.307

ACA/HHS

Mapped

HCC 11

HHS-HCC 11

Varies by metal level

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.059

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 22

Cancer, Other Specified Sites

RAF 0.124

Code Book Path

Official

C0Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (C00-C14)

C07Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland

Inclusion Terms

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for C07 in this effective period.

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C07 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list child codes under C07 for this display context.

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C07 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 1 notes for C07 in this effective period.

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C07 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

code to identify:
alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)
exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C07 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology-confirmed malignancy with specific histological subtype (mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic, acinic cell, etc.)

Laterality documented (right or left parotid gland)

Relationship to facial nerve (superficial vs deep lobe involvement)

TNM staging with particular attention to perineural invasion and nodal status

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology-confirmed malignancy with specific histological subtype (mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic, acinic cell, etc.)

Laterality documented (right or left parotid gland)

Relationship to facial nerve (superficial vs deep lobe involvement)

TNM staging with particular attention to perineural invasion and nodal status

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Confusing benign parotid tumors (D11.0, such as pleomorphic adenoma or Warthin's tumor) with malignant parotid neoplasms

Not documenting laterality which is always identifiable for parotid gland tumors

Coding metastatic cancer to parotid lymph nodes as primary parotid cancer — intraparotid lymph node metastases use secondary neoplasm codes

Missing the histological subtype which significantly impacts prognosis and treatment approach

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

C08.0 — Malignant neoplasm of submandibular gland; the submandibular gland is below the jaw, while the parotid is in front of/below the ear

C08.9 — Major salivary gland, unspecified; avoid when parotid is specifically documented

D11.0 — Benign neoplasm of parotid gland; critical distinction between benign and malignant parotid tumors (pleomorphic adenoma is benign)

C77.0 — Secondary malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head; intraparotid lymph node metastasis should be coded differently

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is C07 an HCC code?

Yes. C07 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under V24).

HCC Category Mapping

V28HCC 21, Lymphoma and Other Cancers

0.671

V24HCC 11, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.307

ESRDHCC 11, Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers

0.059

RxHCCHCC 22, Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.124

Each model's RAF is its CMS base weight for that model's standard population, so weights are not directly comparable across models: CMS-HCC V28 and V24 use Community, Non-Dual, Aged; ESRD uses the dialysis continuing-enrollee model; RxHCC is the Part D continuing-enrollee, non-low-income, aged weight (a larger scale than CMS-HCC). ACA/HHS has no single weight — it varies by metal level. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.

Work C07 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →

MEAT Criteria for C07

For C07to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.

MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis

Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed C07 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

Coder workflow notes

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable page: confirm a code's V28 HCC status, its RAF weight, and the MEAT your note needs to make it stick. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

What This Code Means

C07 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of parotid gland. Cancer that starts in the parotid gland, which is the largest salivary gland located in front of and below the ear. C07 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx (c00-c14).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C07 maps to Lymphoma and Other Cancers (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.671. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C07 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers (HCC 11) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.307. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.

Confirm laterality (left or right parotid) is documented for complete coding. Because C07 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for C07 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Confirm laterality (left or right parotid) is documented for complete coding
•Note that parotid gland cancers may require additional codes for metastases or complications

Clinical Significance

Malignant neoplasm of the parotid gland is the most common major salivary gland cancer, accounting for approximately 80% of salivary gland malignancies. The parotid gland's intimate relationship with the facial nerve makes surgical treatment complex, and the wide variety of histological subtypes affects prognosis and treatment planning significantly.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology-confirmed malignancy with specific histological subtype (mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic, acinic cell, etc.)
✓Laterality documented (right or left parotid gland)
✓Relationship to facial nerve (superficial vs deep lobe involvement)
✓TNM staging with particular attention to perineural invasion and nodal status
✓Grade of tumor (low, intermediate, or high grade)

Use Additional Code

code to identify:
alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)
exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
tobacco dependence (F17.-)
tobacco use (Z72.0)

Commonly Confused Codes

•C08.0: Malignant neoplasm of submandibular gland; the submandibular gland is below the jaw, while the parotid is in front of/below the ear
•C08.9: Major salivary gland, unspecified; avoid when parotid is specifically documented
•D11.0: Benign neoplasm of parotid gland; critical distinction between benign and malignant parotid tumors (pleomorphic adenoma is benign)
•C77.0: Secondary malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head; intraparotid lymph node metastasis should be coded differently

Code Hierarchy

└C07Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland

C07 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant neoplasm of parotid gland

HCC Buddy Code Card

C07

Is C07 an HCC code?

HCC Category Mapping

MEAT Criteria for C07

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

What This Code Means

Coding Tips

Clinical Significance

Documentation Requirements

Use Additional Code

Commonly Confused Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work C07 in HCC Buddy