C10.0
BillableMalignant neoplasm of vallecula
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
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer located in the vallecula, which is a small depression or pocket at the base of the tongue in the throat.
Coding Tips
- •The vallecula is a specific anatomical site in the oropharynx located between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis
- •Ensure documentation specifically mentions the vallecula to distinguish from other oropharyngeal sites
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of the vallecula is an oropharyngeal cancer arising in the depression between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis. This is an important anatomical landmark for head and neck oncology because tumors here may obstruct the airway and significantly impair swallowing function.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology-confirmed malignancy with histological type
- ✓Specific documentation of vallecula as primary site (not just 'base of tongue')
- ✓HPV/p16 status
- ✓Assessment of airway compromise and swallowing function
- ✓TNM staging with imaging to assess depth of invasion and relationship to epiglottis
Commonly Confused Codes
C01 — Malignant neoplasm of base of tongue; the vallecula is between the tongue base and epiglottis, not the tongue base itselfC10.1 — Anterior surface of epiglottis; the vallecula is adjacent to but distinct from the epiglottisC10.9 — Oropharynx, unspecified; avoid when vallecula is documentedC32.1 — Supraglottis; vallecula is oropharyngeal, not laryngeal
Code Hierarchy
└C10Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx└C10.0Malignant neoplasm of vallecula
└C10.0Malignant neoplasm of vallecula