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

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

MS-DRG 820 — LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 821 — LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 822 — LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 823 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH MCC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 824 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH CC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 825 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 840 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH MCC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 841 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH CC (MDC 17)
MS-DRG 842 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 17)

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.

Risk Adjustment (CMS-HCC)

Payment categories this diagnosis maps to under CMS-HCC V28, payment year 2026.

HCC 21 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers (supersedes HCC 22, HCC 23)

Other models: CMS-HCC V22 HCC 10 · RxHCC V08 HCC 21

Risk scores depend on the enrollee's full accepted diagnosis set and segment; a category mapping alone does not determine payment.

Code Overview

Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (C81.44).

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

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for C81.44 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

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).

nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (C81.0-) inherited from C81.4Compare C81.44 vs C81.0 →
personal history of Hodgkin lymphoma (Z85.71) inherited from C81Compare C81.44 vs Z85.71 →

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Kaposi's sarcoma of lymph nodes (C46.3) inherited from C81-C96Compare C81.44 vs C46.3 →
secondary and unspecified neoplasm of lymph nodes (C77.-) inherited from C81-C96Compare C81.44 vs C77 →
secondary neoplasm of bone marrow (C79.52) inherited from C81-C96Compare C81.44 vs C79.52 →
secondary neoplasm of spleen (C78.89) inherited from C81-C96Compare C81.44 vs C78.89 →

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on C81.44 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

FY2017 — 2016-10-01
Description revised
Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb → Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb
FY2017 changes
FY2017 — 2016-10-01
Short description revised
Lymp-rich class Hdgkn lymph, nodes of axilla and upper limb → Lymp-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, nodes of axilla and upper limb
FY2017 changes
FY2016 — 2015-10-01
In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb

Verify Before Coding

CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

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

Other codes that name C81.44 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 3 Excludes1 notes: C26.1 (via C81.-), C76 (via C81.-), C77 (via C81.-).

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

Referenced by 1 Code First instruction: Z15.0 (via C81.-).

These codes instruct coders to sequence this condition first when it applies.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 80 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 9 MS-DRGs: DRG 820 (MDC 17), DRG 821 (MDC 17), DRG 822 (MDC 17), DRG 823 (MDC 17), DRG 824 (MDC 17), DRG 825 (MDC 17), DRG 840 (MDC 17), DRG 841 (MDC 17), DRG 842 (MDC 17).

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

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):NEO057 — Hodgkin lymphoma (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 process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

C81.35 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb, C81.36 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes, C81.37 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen, C81.38 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites, C81.39 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites, C81.3A — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, in remission, C81.40 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site, C81.41 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck, C81.42 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes, C81.43 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes, C81.45 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb, C81.46 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes, C81.47 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen, C81.48 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites, C81.49 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites, C81.4A — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, in remission, C81.70 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site, C81.71 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck, C81.72 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes, C81.73 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes, +59 more

Same CMS-HCC risk category (V28)

CMS maps these diagnoses to the same Hierarchical Condition Category (Lymphoma and Other Cancers) for risk-adjusted payment.

Related risk categories

These categories interact through CMS's HCC hierarchy — one can suppress the other's risk-adjustment weight when both are present on a claim.

Cancer Metastatic to Lung, Liver, Brain, and Other Organs; Acute Myeloid Leukemia Except Promyelocytic, Cancer Metastatic to Bone, Other and Unspecified Metastatic Cancer; Acute Leukemia Except Myeloid, Myelodysplastic Syndromes, Multiple Myeloma, and Other Cancers, Lung and Other Severe Cancers, Bladder, Colorectal, and Other Cancers, Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Hodgkin lymphoma).

C81.34 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb, C81.35 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb, C81.36 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes, C81.37 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen, C81.38 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites, C81.39 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites, C81.40 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site, C81.41 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck, C81.42 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes, C81.43 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes, C81.45 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb, C81.46 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes, C81.47 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen, C81.48 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites, C81.49 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites, C81.70 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site, C81.71 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck, C81.72 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes, C81.73 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes, C81.74 — Other Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb, +49 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, HIV Screening Test, Iron Panel

Contextual Map

Every relationship of C81.44 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.

Hierarchy

C00-D49 — Chapter 2: Neoplasms (C00-D49) (C00-D49) [Hierarchy]

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

C26.1 — Malignant neoplasm of spleen [Excludes1](via C81.-): “Hodgkin lymphoma (C81.-)” · check together
C76 — Malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites [Excludes1](via C81.-): “malignant neoplasm of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue (C81-C96)” · check together
C77 — Secondary and unspecified malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes [Excludes1](via C81.-): “malignant neoplasm of lymph nodes, specified as primary (C81-C86, C88, C96.-)” · check together

Referenced by Code First instructions

Z15.0 — Genetic susceptibility to malignant neoplasm [Code First](via C81.-): “, if applicable, any current malignant neoplasm (C00-C75, C81-C96)” · check together

Clinical classification (CCSR)

NEO057 — Hodgkin lymphoma [CCSR]

Risk adjustment (CMS-HCC)

HCC 21 — Lymphoma and Other Cancers [CMS-HCC]: “Lymphoma and Other Cancers — supersedes HCC 22 (Bladder, Colorectal, and Other Cancers), HCC 23 (Prostate, Breast, and Other Cancers and Tumors)”

MS-DRG Grouper (9)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
DRG 820 — LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITH MCC (MDC 17)”
DRG 821 — LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITH CC (MDC 17)”
DRG 822 — LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND LEUKEMIA WITH MAJOR O.R. PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 17)”
DRG 823 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH MCC (MDC 17)”
DRG 824 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITH CC (MDC 17)”
DRG 825 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH OTHER PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 17)”
DRG 840 — LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “LYMPHOMA AND NON-ACUTE LEUKEMIA WITH MCC (MDC 17)”
and 2 more

MDC crossing · procedures (4730)

MDC 17 — Myeloproliferative Diseases and Disorders, Poorly Differentiated Neoplasms [MDC crossing]: “Myeloproliferative Diseases and Disorders, Poorly Differentiated Neoplasms — 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.”
0016070 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 17, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
0016071 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 17, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
0016072 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 17, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
0016073 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 17, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
0016074 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 17, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
and 4725 more

Nearest codes (40)

C81 — Hodgkin lymphoma [Sibling]
C81.28 — Mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites [Sibling]
C81.29 — Mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites [Sibling]
C81.2A — Mixed cellularity Hodgkin lymphoma, in remission [Sibling]
C81.3 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma [Sibling]
C81.30 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site [Sibling]
C81.31 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck [Sibling]
C81.32 — Lymphocyte depleted Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes [Sibling]
and 32 more

Change history (3)

FY2017 — Description revised [Change history]
and 2 more

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to C81.44 in its code family, with their registry titles.

C81.4 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma
C81.40 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, unspecified site
C81.41 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of head, face, and neck
C81.42 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intrathoracic lymph nodes
C81.43 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intra-abdominal lymph nodes
C81.45 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of inguinal region and lower limb
C81.46 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, intrapelvic lymph nodes
C81.47 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, spleen
C81.48 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of multiple sites
C81.49 — Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, extranodal and solid organ sites

View all codes in the C81 family

C81.44 ICD-10-CM Code: Lymphocyte-rich Hodgkin lymphoma, lymph nodes of axilla and upper limb