C77.0
BillableSecondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 18 — Metastatic Cancer to Peritoneum and Other Specified Sites
0.368V24HCC 8 — Metastatic Cancer and Acute Leukemia
2.484ESRDHCC 8 — Metastatic Cancer and Acute Leukemia
0.000RxHCCHCC 20 — Cancer, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct
0.000What This Code Means
Cancer that has spread to or originated in the lymph nodes of the head, face, and neck region.
Coding Tips
- •This code includes both secondary (metastatic) cancers and primary lymph node malignancies in this region
- •Specify the primary cancer site separately if known, as this code focuses on lymph node involvement
Clinical Significance
Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of the head, face, and neck is a high-impact code representing metastatic cancer involving cervical, facial, or occipital lymph nodes. Cervical lymph node metastasis is a common presentation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, thyroid cancer, and cancers of unknown primary. This code carries one of the highest RAF weights in the cancer HCC categories.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology or imaging confirming malignant lymphadenopathy in the head, face, or neck region
- ✓Identification of the primary malignancy site — code the primary tumor separately
- ✓Specific lymph node stations involved (cervical levels I-V, submandibular, parotid, occipital)
- ✓Documentation of whether this represents recurrent/progressive disease or initial presentation
- ✓Treatment plan addressing both the primary and metastatic disease
Commonly Confused Codes
C77.1 — Intrathoracic lymph nodes: Different lymph node region; verify anatomical locationC81.00-C81.99 — Hodgkin lymphoma: Primary lymph node malignancy, not metastatic diseaseC83.00-C83.99 — Non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Primary lymph node malignancy, not secondaryC76.0 — Malignant neoplasm of head, face, neck (ill-defined): Primary tumor of unknown origin, not lymph node metastasisR59.0 — Localized enlarged lymph nodes: Non-malignant lymphadenopathy
Code Hierarchy
└C77Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes└C77.0Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck
└C77.0Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes of head, face and neck