ICD-10 Code C43.0 – Malignant Melanoma of Lip (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C43.0 – Malignant melanoma of lip
What it is
C43.0 identifies a malignant melanoma arising on the lip. It documents a primary skin cancer of the lip, not a benign lesion or a metastatic tumor from another site.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Typical findings include a changing pigmented lip lesion, irregular borders, color variation, or ulceration, but confirmation depends on pathology.
When to use this code
Use C43.0 when the provider documents malignant melanoma of the lip, including biopsy-confirmed disease or a clinically diagnosed primary lesion on the lip. Code the specific anatomic site when the lip is the documented primary location. Check documentation if the record only states melanoma without site detail.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for benign lip lesions, non-melanoma skin cancers, or melanoma metastatic to the lip from another primary site. Check documentation when the primary site is unclear.
Coding tip
Verify that the lip is the primary site and that the record supports malignant melanoma before assigning C43.0.