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C69.62 vs C79.49

C69.62 (Malignant neoplasm of left orbit) compared with C79.49 (Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system), from the official CMS tabular data.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 20, 2026 · All releases and sources

Summary

These codes name the same anatomical site (connective tissue) with a different neoplasm behavior, so the documented behavior decides which one applies.

MedCoder-derived
What is different?

The conditions named.C69.62 is “Malignant neoplasm of left orbit”; C79.49 is “Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system”.

Registry fact

Can these codes be reported together?

One column applies.C79.49 and C69.62 name the same anatomical site (connective tissue) with a different neoplasm behavior. From the CMS/CDC Table of Neoplasms: the behavior documented for that site — malignant primary, secondary, carcinoma in situ, benign, uncertain or unspecified — decides which column, and therefore which code, applies.

MedCoder-derived

Is there an Excludes1 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes1 note that names the other code. C69.62 carries 4 Excludes1 notes and C79.49 carries 2 Excludes1 notes covering other codes; the side-by-side table quotes them.

Official rule

Is there an Excludes2 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes2 note that names the other code.

Official rule

Is one more specific?

Not comparable.The codes sit in different categories; specificity is only comparable within one category.

Is one a parent or header code?

No.Both are billable codes, and neither contains the other.

Registry fact

Are there sequencing instructions?

None.Neither entry carries a Code First or Use Additional Code note that names the other.

Official rule

Are there other coding relationships?

Yes.Same site, different neoplasm behavior. C79.49 and C69.62 name the same anatomical site (connective tissue) with a different neoplasm behavior.

MedCoder-derived

Official rule: a tabular instructional note or a section of the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, quoted as published. Registry fact: the codes’ own published attributes (titles, billable status, position in the hierarchy, code set). MedCoder-derived: a reading MedCoder computes from those facts; it is not itself a rule. How to read the labels

Can these codes be reported together?

Informational

Neoplasm table relationship

C79.49
Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system
↔
C69.62
Malignant neoplasm of left orbit

What we found

Same site, different neoplasm behavior.C79.49 and C69.62 name the same anatomical site (connective tissue) with a different neoplasm behavior.

From the CMS/CDC Table of Neoplasms: the behavior documented for that site — malignant primary, secondary, carcinoma in situ, benign, uncertain or unspecified — decides which column, and therefore which code, applies.

What to review

Pick the column of the Table of Neoplasms that matches the behavior documented for the site.

Check these on a claim

Why it matters

The behavior documented for the site — malignant primary, secondary, carcinoma in situ, benign, uncertain or unspecified — decides which column of the neoplasm table, and therefore which code, applies.

Source / rule

CMS Table of Neoplasms

Official guidance behind these answers

  • Section I.C.2 — Chapter 2: Neoplasms (C00-D49 ) · applies to: Table of Neoplasms

    General Guidelines Chapter 2 of the ICD-10-CM contains the codes for most benign and all malignant neoplasms. Certain benign neoplasms, such as prostatic adenomas, may be found in the specific body system chapters. To properly code a neoplasm, it is necessary to determine from the record if the neoplasm is benign, in-situ, malignant, or of uncertain histologic behavior. If malignant, any secondary (metastatic) sites should also be determined. Primary malignant neoplasms overlapping site boundaries A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion'), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned. Malignant neoplasm of ectopic tissue Malignant neoplasms of ectopic tissue are to be coded to the site of origin mentioned, e.g., ectopic pancreatic malignant neoplasms involving the stomach are coded to malignant neoplasm of pancreas, unspecified (C25.9). The neoplasm table in the Alphabetic Index should be referenced first. However, if the histological term is documented, that term should be referenced first, rather than going immediately to the Neoplasm Table, in order to determine which column in the Neoplasm Table is appropriate. […]

    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2027

Quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in effect for the release shown. The tabular notes above are the code-level instruction; these sections are the convention that says how such a note is applied. Source document (CMS PDF) · Release and checksum

Side by side

C69.62Malignant neoplasm of left orbitC79.49Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationC00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49)C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49)
DefinitionMalignant neoplasm of left orbit is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (C69.62).Secondary malignant neoplasm of other parts of nervous system is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (C79.49).
Excludes1
malignant neoplasm of orbital bone (C41.0)
malignant neoplasm of connective tissue of eyelid (C49.0)
malignant neoplasm of eyelid (skin) (C43.1-, C44.1-)
malignant neoplasm of optic nerve (C72.3-)
secondary carcinoid tumors (C7B.-)
secondary neuroendocrine tumors (C7B.-)

Notes are the code’s own tabular entry, quoted as published. A note that names the other code is the one the verdict above rests on.

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2027). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources