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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

C43.4Malignant melanoma of scalp and neck

✓ Billable / specific

C43.4 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for malignant melanoma of scalp and neck. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About C43.4

C43.4 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant melanoma of scalp and neck. It belongs to category C43 (malignant melanoma of skin), block C43-C44 (melanoma and other malignant neoplasms of skin) and chapter 2 (neoplasms). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within C43 (malignant melanoma of skin), C43.4 is specifically for malignant melanoma of scalp and neck. Related codes cover lip (C43.0), eyelid, including canthus (C43.1), ear and external auricular canal (C43.2), other and unspecified parts of face (C43.3), trunk (C43.5), upper limb, including shoulder (C43.6), lower limb, including hip (C43.7), overlapping sites of skin (C43.8) and 1 more.

It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 595 (Major Skin Disorders with MCC, relative weight 2.0239) and DRG 596 (Major Skin Disorders without MCC, relative weight 1.1071), in MDC 09 (Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 172.4 (malignant melanoma of skin of scalp and neck).

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to C43.4.

› From C43 Malignant melanoma of skin
Excludes1
  • melanoma in situ (D03.-)
Excludes2
  • malignant melanoma of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.-)
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)
  • sites other than skin-code to malignant neoplasm of the site

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 2: Neoplasms.

Alphabetic index entries

2 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to C43.4.

MS-DRG v44.0 grouping

All DRGs →

Inpatient MS-DRGs this diagnosis can group to, as the principal or a secondary diagnosis, depending on the rest of the claim.

MDC 09 · Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast

ICD-9-CM equivalent

Converter →
  • 172.4Malignant melanoma of skin of scalp and neckapproximate

From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about C43.4

Is C43.4 billable?

Yes. C43.4 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

Can C43.4 be used as a principal diagnosis?

Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict C43.4 as a principal diagnosis.

Is C43.4 a CC or MCC?

No. C43.4 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.

What DRG does C43.4 group to?

C43.4 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 595 (Major Skin Disorders with MCC) and MS-DRG 596 (Major Skin Disorders without MCC). Which one applies depends on whether it is the principal diagnosis and on the rest of the claim.

What is the ICD-9 code for C43.4?

The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map C43.4 to ICD-9-CM 172.4.