C09 ICD-10-CM Code: Malignant neoplasm of tonsil

C09 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of tonsil. C09 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).

Header codes like C09 cannot be reported on claims directly, they organize child codes that share clinical context but the actual diagnosis must be coded to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation. Coders should look at C09's child codes and select the one that matches the patient's documented presentation, since payers reject header codes submitted as the primary diagnosis. For risk adjustment workflows, header codes never contribute to a Medicare Advantage member's RAF score on their own; only billable child codes that happen to map to a payment HCC affect risk-adjusted plan payments.