ICD10BillableValid for clinical use
ICD-10 Code C02.1: Malignant neoplasm of border of tongue
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026
What is this code?
ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Neoplasms (C00-D49).
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents malignant neoplasm of border of tongue in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.
What it does not mean
- A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
- A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
Code hierarchy
chapter
2Neoplasms (C00-D49)
block
C00-C96Malignant neoplasms
block
C00-C75Malignant neoplasms, stated or presumed to be primary (of specified sites), and certain specified histologies, except neuroendocrine, and of lymphoid, hematopoietic and related tissue
block
C00-C14Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx
category
C02Malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified parts of tongue
currentC02
Official coding notes
Inclusion terms
- Malignant neoplasm of tip of tongue
Where you may see this code
You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.
Related specialists
OncologistGeneral Physician
Related codes
C02.0Malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of tonguecodeC02.2Malignant neoplasm of ventral surface of tonguecodeC02.3Malignant neoplasm of anterior two-thirds of tongue, part unspecifiedcodeC02.4Malignant neoplasm of lingual tonsilcodeC02.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tonguecodeC02.9Malignant neoplasm of tongue, unspecifiedcode
Sibling codes
C02.0Malignant neoplasm of dorsal surface of tonguebillableC02.2Malignant neoplasm of ventral surface of tonguebillableC02.3Malignant neoplasm of anterior two-thirds of tongue, part unspecifiedbillableC02.4Malignant neoplasm of lingual tonsilbillableC02.8Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of tonguebillableC02.9Malignant neoplasm of tongue, unspecifiedbillable
Coverage-related procedures and services
CPT 81479high
UNLISTED MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY PROCEDURE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 81445high
SOLID ORGAN NEOPLASM, GENOMIC SEQUENCE ANALYSIS PANEL, 5-50 GENES, INTERROGATION FOR SEQUENCE VARIANTS AND COPY NUMBER VARIANTS OR REARRANGEMENTS, IF PERFORMED; DNA ANALYSIS OR COMBINED DNA AND RNA ANALYSIS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 0543Uhigh
ONCOLOGY (SOLID TUMOR), NEXT-GENERATION SEQUENCING OF DNA FROM FORMALIN-FIXED PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED (FFPE) TISSUE OF 517 GENES, INTERROGATION FOR SINGLE-NUCLEOTIDE VARIANTS, MULTI-NUCLEOTIDE VARIANTS, INSERTIONS AND DELETIONS FROM DNA, FUSIONS IN 24 GENES AND SPLICE VARIANTS IN 1 GENE FROM RNA, AND TUMOR MUTATION BURDEN
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 0329Uhigh
ONCOLOGY (NEOPLASIA), EXOME AND TRANSCRIPTOME SEQUENCE ANALYSIS FOR SEQUENCE VARIANTS, GENE COPY NUMBER AMPLIFICATIONS AND DELETIONS, GENE REARRANGEMENTS, MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY AND TUMOR MUTATIONAL BURDEN UTILIZING DNA AND RNA FROM TUMOR WITH DNA FROM NORMAL BLOOD OR SALIVA FOR SUBTRACTION, REPORT OF CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT MUTATION(S) WITH THERAPY ASSOCIATIONS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 0250Uhigh
ONCOLOGY (SOLID ORGAN NEOPLASM), TARGETED GENOMIC SEQUENCE DNA ANALYSIS OF 505 GENES, INTERROGATION FOR SOMATIC ALTERATIONS (SNVS [SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE VARIANT], SMALL INSERTIONS AND DELETIONS, ONE AMPLIFICATION, AND FOUR TRANSLOCATIONS), MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY AND TUMOR-MUTATION BURDEN
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 0244Uhigh
ONCOLOGY (SOLID ORGAN), DNA, COMPREHENSIVE GENOMIC PROFILING, 257 GENES, INTERROGATION FOR SINGLE-NUCLEOTIDE VARIANTS, INSERTIONS/DELETIONS, COPY NUMBER ALTERATIONS, GENE REARRANGEMENTS, TUMOR-MUTATIONAL BURDEN AND MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY, UTILIZING FORMALIN-FIXED PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED TUMOR TISSUE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
Mapped diagnoses and classifications
SNOMED_CT 371974006high
Malignant neoplasm of border of tongue
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 254408000high
Malignant neoplasm of lateral margin of tongue
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 254412006high
Malignant neoplasm of tip of tongue
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 187637005high
Malignant neoplasm of tongue, tip and lateral border
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 371975007high
Primary malignant neoplasm of border of tongue
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 688751000119103high
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of border of tongue
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Legacy and official ICD code match exactly.
Legacy codes
C02.1
Common synonyms
Malignant neoplasm of border of tongue
Frequently asked questions
About this content
This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.