2025 ICD-10-CM code C49.0

Malignant neoplasm of connective and soft tissue of head, face and neck. This includes malignancies of the ear and eyelid, but excludes the orbit.

Use additional codes to identify functional activity associated with the neoplasm. Use C49.8 for overlapping lesions unless the combination has another index entry.

In simple words: Cancer of the connective and soft tissues of the head, face, and neck, including the ear and eyelid, but not the eye socket.

Malignant neoplasm of the connective and soft tissues of the head, face, and neck includes malignancies of muscles, blood and lymph vessels, tendons and tendon sheaths, ligaments, and cartilage. It excludes malignancies of the orbit.

Example 1: A patient presents with a progressively enlarging, painful lump on the side of their neck.Imaging reveals a malignant tumor within the sternocleidomastoid muscle, consistent with a sarcoma., A patient with a history of radiation therapy for acne as a teenager now presents with a malignant tumor of the connective tissue of the ear., Biopsy of a lesion on the eyelid reveals a malignant neoplasm originating in the connective tissue.

Documentation should include the anatomical site, laterality, and morphology of the neoplasm, along with any contributing factors. Imaging reports, biopsy results, and relevant clinical findings should be included.

**

  • Specialties:Oncology, Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery
  • Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Independent Clinic
** Only Enterprise users with EHR integration can access case-specific answers. Click here to request access.