ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
C49.0Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of head, face and neck
C49.0 is a valid, billable ICD-10-CM code for malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of head, face and neck. It can be reported on claims for dates of service from October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027.Short description: Malig neoplm of conn and soft tissue of head, face and neck
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 C49.0
C49.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of head, face and neck. It belongs to category C49 (malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue), block C45-C49 (malignant neoplasms of mesothelial and soft tissue) 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 C49 (malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue), C49.0 is specifically for malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of head, face and neck. Related codes cover malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of upper limb, including shoulder (C49.1), malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of lower limb, including hip (C49.2), malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of thorax (C49.3), malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of abdomen (C49.4), malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of pelvis (C49.5), malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of trunk, unspecified (C49.6), malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of connective and soft tissue (C49.8), malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue, unspecified (C49.9) and 1 more.
Don't report C49.0 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: connective tissue of orbit (C69.6-).
As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 542 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with MCC, relative weight 1.7211), DRG 543 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with CC, relative weight 1.006) and DRG 544 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.7406), in MDC 08 (Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue), 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 171.0 (malignant neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face, and neck).
Coding notes
- Malignant neoplasm of connective tissue of ear
- Malignant neoplasm of connective tissue of eyelid
- connective tissue of orbit (C69.6-)
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to C49.0.
› From C49 Malignant neoplasm of other connective and soft tissue
- malignant neoplasm of blood vessel
- malignant neoplasm of bursa
- malignant neoplasm of cartilage
- malignant neoplasm of fascia
- malignant neoplasm of fat
- malignant neoplasm of ligament, except uterine
- malignant neoplasm of lymphatic vessel
- malignant neoplasm of muscle
- malignant neoplasm of synovia
- malignant neoplasm of tendon (sheath)
- Kaposi's sarcoma of soft tissue (C46.1)
- malignant neoplasm of heart (C38.0)
- malignant neoplasm of peripheral nerves and autonomic nervous system (C47.-)
- malignant neoplasm of peritoneum (C48.2)
- malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum (C48.0)
- malignant neoplasm of uterine ligament (C57.3)
- mesothelioma (C45.-)
Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 2: Neoplasms.
Table of Drugs & Neoplasms entries
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › carotid (artery) — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC › auricular — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC › ear (external) — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC › eyelid — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC › pinna — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › auricle (ear) — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › cervical region — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › cheek — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › chin — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › ear (external) — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › eyelid — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › face — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › forehead — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › head — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › neck — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › pterygoid fossa — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › scalp — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › submental — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › supraclavicular region — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › temple — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › connective tissue NEC › temporal region — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › ear (external) › cartilage — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › eyelid (lower) (skin) (upper) › cartilage — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › fossa (of) › pterygoid — Malignant Primary
- Neoplasm, neoplastic › pterygoid fossa — Malignant Primary
Codes whose notes reference C49.0
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 08 · Diseases and Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Converter →- 171.0Malignant neoplasm of connective and other soft tissue of head, face, and neckapproximate
From the CMS 2018 General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), the final GEMs release.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about C49.0
Is C49.0 billable?
- Yes. C49.0 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can C49.0 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict C49.0 as a principal diagnosis.
Is C49.0 a CC or MCC?
- C49.0 is a CC (complication or comorbidity) under MS-DRG v44.0, unless excluded by the principal diagnosis.
What DRG does C49.0 group to?
- C49.0 is used in the MS-DRG v44.0 logic for MS-DRG 542 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with MCC), MS-DRG 543 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy with CC) and MS-DRG 544 (Pathological Fractures and Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Malignancy without CC/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 C49.0?
- The CMS General Equivalence Mappings map C49.0 to ICD-9-CM 171.0.