C40Non-billableSave

C40 - Malignant neoplasm of bone and articular cartilage of limbs

ICD-10-CM Chapter 2: Neoplasms · C40-C41 Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage (C40-C41) · Top-level category · FY2027

Coding Guidance

C40 is a non-billable heading. Report one of the 6 more specific codes below.

Includes, Excludes and Coding Notes

Use Additional CodeFrom C40

Add a secondary code to identify the associated condition or cause when it is documented.

  • code to identify major osseous defect, if applicable (M89.7-)
IncludesFrom C40-C41 Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage (C40-C41)

Conditions this code covers.

  • malignant neoplasm of cartilage (articular) (joint)
  • malignant neoplasm of periosteum
Excludes 1 — Not Coded HereFrom C40-C41 Malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage (C40-C41)

Mutually exclusive: these conditions are never reported together with this code.

  • malignant neoplasm of bone marrow NOS (C96.9)
  • malignant neoplasm of synovia (C49.-)
NotesFrom Chapter C00-D49

Instructional notes from the ICD-10-CM tabular list.

  • Functional activity
  • All neoplasms are classified in this chapter, whether they are functionally active or not. An additional code from Chapter 4 may be used, to identify functional activity associated with any neoplasm.
  • Morphology [Histology]
  • Chapter 2 classifies neoplasms primarily by site (topography), with broad groupings for behavior, malignant, in situ, benign, etc. The Table of Neoplasms should be used to identify the correct topography code. In a few cases, such as for malignant melanoma and certain neuroendocrine tumors, the morphology (histologic type) is included in the category and codes.
  • Primary malignant neoplasms overlapping site boundaries
  • A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion'), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
  • Malignant neoplasm of ectopic tissue
  • Malignant neoplasms of ectopic tissue are to be coded to the site mentioned, e.g., ectopic pancreatic malignant neoplasms are coded to pancreas, unspecified (C25.9).

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with C40.