What is ICD-10 code C30.0?

C30.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity. Cancer that develops in the nasal cavity, the space inside the nose where air passes through. It belongs to the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49). C30.0 is a billable code, meaning it can be reported on a claim as a primary or secondary diagnosis when supported by documentation. C30.0 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. C30.0 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. C30.0 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 C30.0?

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 C30.0, V28 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors at RAF 0.545 while V24 mapped to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers at RAF 0.306. Both models can still appear in legacy data and in payer-specific lookback periods.

What should coders know when reporting C30.0?

Distinguish between nasal cavity cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer (which uses different codes) Document histology type as nasal cavity cancers can be squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, or other types Because C30.0 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.

C30.0 ICD-10 Code: Malignant neoplasm of nasal

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 lookupC30.0Effective periodFY2026 Apr Update (Apr 1-Sep 30)

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Malignant neoplasms of respiratory and intrathoracic organs (C30-C39)

C30.0

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

Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity

Cancer that develops in the nasal cavity, the space inside the nose where air passes through.

Buddy Insight

Nasal cavity cancers are uncommon and often present late due to nonspecific symptoms like nasal obstruction and epistaxis.

CMS-HCC V28

Mapped

HCC 21

Breast, Prostate, Colorectal ...

RAF 0.545

CMS-HCC V24

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.306

ACA/HHS

Not risk-adjusted for this model/period.

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

Mapped

HCC 11

Colorectal, Bladder, and Othe...

RAF 0.0

RXHCC

Mapped

HCC 22

Cancer, Other Specified Sites

RAF 0.0

Code Trumping

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Compare selected patient codes to show trumped or trumps impact.

Code Book Path

Official

C30Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity and middle ear

C30.0Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity

Inclusion Terms

Official

Malignant neoplasm of cartilage of nose
Malignant neoplasm of nasal concha
Malignant neoplasm of internal nose
Malignant neoplasm of septum of nose
Malignant neoplasm of vestibule of nose

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for C30.0 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official

C30.1Malignant neoplasm of middle ear

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for C30.0 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official

malignant neoplasm of nasal bone (C41.0)
malignant neoplasm of nose NOS (C76.0)
malignant neoplasm of olfactory bulb (C72.2-)
malignant neoplasm of posterior margin of nasal septum and choana (C11.3)
malignant melanoma of skin of nose (C43.31)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for C30.0 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for C30.0 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for C30.0 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology confirmation with histological type (squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma, melanoma)

Specific anatomical location within the nasal cavity (septum, lateral wall, turbinates, floor)

Extent of disease including any invasion into adjacent structures (orbit, sinuses, skull base)

TNM staging and treatment plan

MEAT Support

HCC Buddy guidance

Pathology confirmation with histological type (squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma, melanoma)

Specific anatomical location within the nasal cavity (septum, lateral wall, turbinates, floor)

Extent of disease including any invasion into adjacent structures (orbit, sinuses, skull base)

TNM staging and treatment plan

Audit Caution

HCC Buddy guidance

Confusing nasal cavity cancer with nasopharyngeal cancer — they have different anatomical origins and ICD-10 codes

Coding nasal vestibule tumors as nasal cavity — the vestibule is classified under skin of nose

Not capturing the histological type separately when it affects treatment decisions

Failing to code invasion of adjacent structures when documented

Common Mistakes

HCC Buddy guidance

C11.9 — Malignant neoplasm of nasopharynx: The nasopharynx is posterior to the nasal cavity; these are anatomically and clinically distinct

C31.0 — Malignant neoplasm of maxillary sinus: Nasal cavity tumors may extend into the maxillary sinus — code the primary site

D14.0 — Benign neoplasm of nasal cavity: Ensure malignancy is confirmed; inverted papillomas can transform to carcinoma

C44.301 — Basal cell carcinoma of skin of nose: External nasal skin cancers use skin codes, not nasal cavity codes

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 C30.0 an HCC code?

Yes. C30.0 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model (and Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers under V24).

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

RxHCCHCC 22, Cancer, Other Specified Sites

0.000

RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. 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.

MEAT Criteria for C30.0

For C30.0to 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 C30.0 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.

What This Code Means

C30.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity. Cancer that develops in the nasal cavity, the space inside the nose where air passes through. C30.0 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering malignant neoplasms of respiratory and intrathoracic organs (c30-c39).

Under the CMS-HCC V28 risk adjustment model, C30.0 maps to Breast, Prostate, Colorectal and Other Cancers and Tumors (HCC 21) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.545. Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, C30.0 maps to Colorectal, Bladder, and Other Cancers (HCC 11) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.306. 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.

Distinguish between nasal cavity cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer (which uses different codes). Because C30.0 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 C30.0 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

•Distinguish between nasal cavity cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer (which uses different codes)
•Document histology type as nasal cavity cancers can be squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, or other types

Clinical Significance

Nasal cavity cancers are uncommon and often present late due to nonspecific symptoms like nasal obstruction and epistaxis. They encompass multiple histological types including squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and esthesioneuroblastoma. Accurate coding is essential as treatment often involves complex surgery and radiation, driving significant resource utilization.

Documentation Requirements

✓Pathology confirmation with histological type (squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, esthesioneuroblastoma, melanoma)
✓Specific anatomical location within the nasal cavity (septum, lateral wall, turbinates, floor)
✓Extent of disease including any invasion into adjacent structures (orbit, sinuses, skull base)
✓TNM staging and treatment plan
✓Distinction from nasopharyngeal cancer

Excludes 1, Do NOT code together

malignant neoplasm of nasal bone (C41.0)
malignant neoplasm of nose NOS (C76.0)
malignant neoplasm of olfactory bulb (C72.2-)
malignant neoplasm of posterior margin of nasal septum and choana (C11.3)
malignant melanoma of skin of nose (C43.31)
malignant neoplasm of turbinates (C41.0)
other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin of nose (C44.301, C44.311, C44.321, C44.391)

Commonly Confused Codes

•C11.9 — Malignant neoplasm of nasopharynx: The nasopharynx is posterior to the nasal cavity; these are anatomically and clinically distinct
•C31.0 — Malignant neoplasm of maxillary sinus: Nasal cavity tumors may extend into the maxillary sinus — code the primary site
•D14.0 — Benign neoplasm of nasal cavity: Ensure malignancy is confirmed; inverted papillomas can transform to carcinoma
•C44.301 — Basal cell carcinoma of skin of nose: External nasal skin cancers use skin codes, not nasal cavity codes