Skip to main content

C44.92 ICD-10-CM Code: Squamous cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified

Compare with another code for C44.92Check this code on a claim

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
2 inclusion terms · 4 Excludes1

Billable · FY2027A valid, specific ICD-10-CM code, reportable for dates of service in FY2027.

What you need to know

Source: CMS/NCHS Official ICD-10-CM tabular notes, quoted. From the CMS/NCHS tabular list for the release in force. A note the category or block publishes applies to this code too, and is marked with where it comes from.

Excludes1from C44Not reported with this code unless documented as unrelated
  • Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)
  • malignant melanoma of skin (C43.-)
  • malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.2)
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)
Includesfrom C44What C44 covers
  • malignant neoplasm of sebaceous glands
  • malignant neoplasm of sweat glands

Where it sits Source: CMS/NCHS

Under:Chapter 2: NeoplasmsC00-C96 Malignant neoplasmsC00-C75 Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary (of specified sites), and certain specified histologies, except neuroendocrine, and of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissueC43-C44 Melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skinC44 Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skinC44.9 Other and unspecified malignant neoplasm of skin, unspecified

Most relevant related codes MedCoder-derived

Read off the official notes above and this code’s own position in the tabular list. Which to report is a documentation question; Compare shows the two side by side.

CompareCheck ClaimView Related Codes

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v44, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 606 — MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 09)
  • MS-DRG 607 — MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 09)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for C44.92 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Trace:FY2027 changesChange historyRelease, file and checksum

Notes without a marker are published on C44.92 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Includes

Conditions the official ICD-10-CM tabular list includes under this code.

  • malignant neoplasm of sebaceous glands
  • malignant neoplasm of sweat glands

Source: inherited from C44

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from C44

Coder workflow for C44.92

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code C44.92

  1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, C44.92 may be the appropriate code. No code beside it in this subcategory is more specific; when the record documents what the title leaves unspecified, look the documented term up in the Alphabetic Index, which may lead to a code outside this subcategory. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18, I.B.1).

    See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

  2. Confirm the documented site and behavior (this code’s block classifies malignant neoplasms), whether the site is primary or secondary, and whether the malignancy is current or a personal history: a previously excised malignancy with no further treatment and no evidence of disease is history, not current disease. Verify the site against the Table of Neoplasms. Neoplasm chapter guidelines (Guidelines I.C.2.a, I.C.2.d, I.C.2.m).

    See the Table of Neoplasms entries · Guide: Active cancer vs history of cancer →

  3. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with C44.92. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the record document the detail this title leaves unspecified?
    Yes → Look the documented term up in the Alphabetic Index; the code it leads to may sit outside this subcategory.
    No → Continue — C44.92 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.
  2. Does the documentation support a condition named in C44.92’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewC46.0, C43, C60, C63.2, C4A

Consider C44.92. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
Anatomical site
At the most specific level the record states; a site the classification separates cannot be assumed from a procedure or a measurement.
Behavior and current-versus-history status
Malignant, in situ, benign or uncertain; primary or secondary; current disease or personal history (Guidelines I.C.2.m).
Any detail beyond this code’s title
What the record states that a more specific code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting C44.92(4 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with C44.92: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareC46.0, C43, C60, C63.2, C4A

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: The provider documents the condition in the terms of this code’s title and records no further detail.

Coding question: Is a more specific code supportable?

Path: No sibling in this subcategory is more specific; look the documented detail up in the Alphabetic Index.

Reason: A more specific code needs documentation of the distinguishing element; without it the unspecified code is appropriate, and a provider query is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

Documentation: Both the condition C44.92 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewC46.0, C43, C60, C63.2, C4A

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse C44.92 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of C44.92 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

  • C46.0— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of Kaposi's sarcoma of skin moves the case to C46.0; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: C44.92 vs C46.0 →

  • C43— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of malignant melanoma of skin moves the case to C43; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: C44.92 vs C43 →

  • C51— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs moves the case to C51; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: C44.92 vs C51 →

  • C52— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs moves the case to C52; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: C44.92 vs C52 →

  • C60— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs moves the case to C60; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: C44.92 vs C60 →

  • C63.2— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

    Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

    Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

    What moves you there: Documentation of malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs moves the case to C63.2; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

    Full comparison: C44.92 vs C63.2 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Coding context

Guidelines, coding notes, decision aids, relationships (with MS-DRG and CCSR classification), hierarchy, HCC, coverage and the context map: what a coder reaches for after the core. Each section names whether it is official source data, a MedCoder-derived relationship or MedCoder editorial.

Code Overview

Squamous cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (C44.92).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Verify Before Coding

  • No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder-derived relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name C44.92 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes and the CMS Table of Neoplasms (site match derived from the code title). Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes1 note: C76 — Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites (via C44.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 3 Screening & history codes: Z12.83 — Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of skin (via C44.9.-)Compare C44.92 vs Z12.83 →, Z85.82 — Personal history of malignant neoplasm of skin (via C44.9.-)Compare C44.92 vs Z85.82 →, Z85.828 — Personal history of other malignant neoplasm of skin (via C44.9.-)Compare C44.92 vs Z85.828 →.

These codes represent screening tests and history codes that refer to this active disease condition.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2027)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2027 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 606 (MDC 09), DRG 607 (MDC 09).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):NEO027 — Skin cancers - squamous cell carcinoma (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Skin cancers - squamous cell carcinoma).

C44.129 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left eyelid, including canthus, C44.1291 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left upper eyelid, including canthus, C44.1292 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left lower eyelid, including canthus, C44.221 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal, C44.222 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right ear and external auricular canal, C44.229 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left ear and external auricular canal, C44.320 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified parts of face, C44.321 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of nose, C44.329 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of other parts of face, C44.42 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of scalp and neck, C44.520 — Squamous cell carcinoma of anal skin, C44.521 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of breast, C44.529 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of other part of trunk, C44.621 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified upper limb, including shoulder, C44.622 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right upper limb, including shoulder, C44.629 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left upper limb, including shoulder, C44.721 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified lower limb, including hip, C44.722 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of right lower limb, including hip, C44.729 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of left lower limb, including hip, C44.82 — Squamous cell carcinoma of overlapping sites of skin, +5 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) Test, Iron Panel

Contextual Map

Every relationship of C44.92 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run C44.92 with this related code in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Screening & history codes MedCoder-derived

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 09 — Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 7,378 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2027

Neoplasm sites

  • Neoplasm, neoplastic, skin NOS, squamous cell carcinoma — Neoplasm, neoplastic, skin NOS, squamous cell carcinoma — Malignant, Primary [Neoplasm table]: “Neoplasm, neoplastic, skin NOS, squamous cell carcinoma (Malignant, Primary)”— CMS Table of Neoplasms · icd10cm-fy2027

Nearest codes (40)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Reference

Index terms and tables, published questions and FAQ, every source behind this page with its release and checksum, the date-of-service check and the complete change history.

Neoplasm Table Sites (1)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Anatomical sites from the official ICD-10-CM Table of Neoplasms that map to this code, with the matching behavior column.

  • Neoplasm, neoplastic, skin NOS, squamous cell carcinoma — Malignant, Primary

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v44 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder-derived relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder editorial explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

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 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder-derived relationship · MedCoder editorial explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates · CMS coding rules

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "C44.92 — Squamous cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified." ICD-10-CM FY2027. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/c44.92-squamous-cell-carcinoma-of-skin-unspecified

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Squamous cell carcinoma of skin, unspecified

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027, and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to C44.92 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the C44 family