C43.31
BillableMalignant melanoma of nose
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 23 — Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers
0.251V24HCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.150ESRDHCC 12 — Breast, Prostate, and Other Cancers and Tumors
0.000RxHCCHCC 22 — Cancer, Other Specified Sites
0.000What This Code Means
A type of skin cancer (melanoma) that starts on the nose.
Coding Tips
- •This code is specific to melanoma of the nose only
- •Do not use this code for melanomas on other parts of the face; use C43.39 for other facial locations
Clinical Significance
Malignant melanoma of the nose. The nose is a prominent sun-exposed site and nasal melanomas can be cutaneous (external skin) or mucosal (nasal cavity lining). Cutaneous nasal melanomas are coded here while mucosal nasal melanomas use C30.0. Wide excision of nasal melanoma often requires complex reconstruction involving local flaps or grafts.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Confirmation the melanoma is on the external nasal skin (not nasal cavity mucosa)
- ✓Specific location on the nose (dorsum, tip, ala, sidewall)
- ✓Breslow depth and ulceration status
- ✓Sentinel lymph node biopsy results
- ✓AJCC staging and mitotic rate
- ✓Surgical plan and reconstruction approach
Commonly Confused Codes
C30.0 — Malignant neoplasm of nasal cavity; for MUCOSAL melanoma inside the nose, which is a much more aggressive diseaseC43.39 — Melanoma of other parts of face; for melanoma on adjacent facial areasC43.30 — Melanoma of unspecified part of face; less specific, use C43.31 when nose is documentedD03.39 — Melanoma in situ of other parts of face; for non-invasive melanoma
Code Hierarchy
└C43Malignant melanoma of skin└C43.3Malignant melanoma of other and unspecified parts of face└C43.31Malignant melanoma of nose
└C43.31Malignant melanoma of nose