C10.1

Billable

Malignant neoplasm of anterior surface of epiglottis

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

What This Code Means

Cancer of the front-facing surface of the epiglottis, which is the flap of tissue that covers the airway when swallowing.

Coding Tips

•The anterior surface of the epiglottis is the side facing toward the base of the tongue
•Distinguish from the posterior surface or laryngeal surface of the epiglottis, which would be coded differently

Clinical Significance

Malignant neoplasm of the anterior surface of the epiglottis is classified as an oropharyngeal cancer because the anterior (lingual) surface faces the tongue base. This distinction is critical because the posterior (laryngeal) surface of the epiglottis is classified as supraglottic laryngeal cancer with different coding and staging implications.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology-confirmed malignancy specifying anterior (lingual) surface of epiglottis
✓Clear documentation distinguishing anterior from posterior epiglottic surface
✓HPV/p16 status (relevant as an oropharyngeal cancer)
✓TNM staging using oropharyngeal (not laryngeal) staging criteria
✓Assessment of extension to vallecula, tongue base, or other structures

Excludes 2 — Not included here, may code separately

malignant neoplasm of epiglottis (suprahyoid portion) NOS (C32.1)

Commonly Confused Codes

C32.1 — Malignant neoplasm of supraglottis; the posterior/laryngeal surface of epiglottis is coded as supraglottic, not C10.1 C10.0 — Vallecula; adjacent site below the anterior epiglottis C10.8 — Overlapping sites of oropharynx; use when tumor spans anterior epiglottis and adjacent oropharyngeal sites C01 — Base of tongue; anterior epiglottic tumors may extend to tongue base

Code Hierarchy

└C10Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx └C10.1Malignant neoplasm of anterior surface of epiglottis

└C10.1Malignant neoplasm of anterior surface of epiglottis