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D37.09 vs D49.0

D37.09 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites of the oral cavity) compared with D49.0 (Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.

Relationship

Conflict

Excludes1 conflict

D37.09
Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites of the oral cavity
D49.0
Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system

Not coded here — these two are mutually exclusive.

“neoplasms of unspecified behavior (D49.-)”

An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur together, so the pair should not be reported for the same encounter. The sole exception is when the conditions are documented as unrelated to each other.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

D49.0
Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system
D37.09
Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites of the oral cavity

Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

“neoplasms of uncertain behavior (D37-D44, D48)”

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Can these codes be reported together?

No — do not report together. D37.09 carries an Excludes1 note covering D49.0: “neoplasms of unspecified behavior (D49.-)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Yes, when both are documented. D49.0 carries an Excludes2 note covering D37.09: “neoplasms of uncertain behavior (D37-D44, D48)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

Side by side

D37.09Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites of the oral cavityD49.0Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationC00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49)C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49)
DefinitionNeoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites of the oral cavity is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D37.09).Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of digestive system is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D49.0).
Includes
'growth' NOS
neoplasm NOS
new growth NOS
tumor NOS

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources