C50

Header — not billable

Malignant neoplasm of breast

The ICD-10 code for malignant neoplasm of breast is C50.

C50 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 10 more specific codes below.

Clinical notes

Excludes1 (not coded here)

An Excludes1 note is a pure exclusion: the excluded condition and this code should never be reported together, because the two conditions cannot occur at the same time (e.g. a congenital form vs. an acquired form of the same disease).

skin of breast (C44.501, C44.511, C44.521, C44.591)

Includes

Terms listed here further define or give examples of the conditions grouped under this code — they describe what the code covers, not a separate diagnosis.

connective tissue of breast
Paget's disease of breast
Paget's disease of nipple

Use additional code

This code represents an underlying condition. When a related manifestation is also present, coding convention calls for an additional code to be listed after this one.

code to identify estrogen, and other hormones and factors receptor status (Z17.-)

Documentation support

General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.

•This is a non-billable header code. Documentation must support a more specific child code before this diagnosis can be reported on a claim.
•Confirm the excluded condition(s) listed above are not also present — Excludes1 conditions cannot be coded together with this one.
•If the associated manifestation or related condition noted above is also documented, an additional code should be reported alongside this one.
•As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.

Clinical notes

Excludes1 (not coded here)

Includes

Use additional code

Documentation support

Child codes under C50