C76.0
BillableMalignant neoplasm of head, face and neck
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 malignant (cancerous) tumor located in the head, face, or neck region, but the specific tissue or organ of origin is not further specified.
Coding Tips
- •This code is used when the primary site is head/face/neck but histology or specific organ is unknown
- •If a specific organ (thyroid, larynx, etc.) is identified, use the more specific C-code for that organ
Clinical Significance
Malignant neoplasm of head, face, and neck (ill-defined site) is used when a malignancy is documented in the head, face, or neck region but the specific tissue or organ of origin cannot be determined. This code applies to overlapping or contiguous sites where the point of origin is unclear. It should not be used when a more specific anatomical site code is available.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Documentation confirming malignancy in the head, face, or neck region
- ✓Evidence that the site of origin cannot be determined despite workup
- ✓Pathology report with histological type
- ✓Imaging documenting the extent and location of the tumor
- ✓Provider attestation that the specific organ of origin is unknown
Commonly Confused Codes
C10-C14 — Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity, pharynx: Use when mucosal origin is identifiedC43.30-C43.39 — Melanoma of face: Use when skin melanoma of specific facial site is documentedC76.8 — Other specified ill-defined sites: Use for ill-defined sites other than head/neckC80.0 — Disseminated malignant neoplasm, unspecified: Use when cancer is widespread without identifiable primaryC77.0 — Secondary neoplasm of lymph nodes of head/neck: Lymph node metastasis, not primary tumor
Code Hierarchy
└C76Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites└C76.0Malignant neoplasm of head, face and neck
└C76.0Malignant neoplasm of head, face and neck