ICD-10 Code C10 – Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C10 – Malignant neoplasm of oropharynx
What it is
C10 identifies a malignant neoplasm arising in the oropharynx, the middle part of the throat behind the mouth. Use it when documentation states a primary cancer of this region without a more specific subsite.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly reported findings include a throat mass, sore throat, dysphagia, odynophagia, or referred ear pain, but you should code only what is documented and confirmed.
When to use this code
Use C10 when the provider documents primary malignant neoplasm of the oropharynx and does not specify a more detailed site. It also fits confirmed cancers described broadly as oropharyngeal without another indexed sublocation. Check documentation if the record mentions extension from another head and neck site.
Do not use for
Do not use C10 for benign tumors, dysplasia, or carcinoma in situ of the oropharynx. Also avoid it when the documented primary site is elsewhere, such as the tonsil, tongue, or hypopharynx.
Coding tip
Before assigning C10, confirm the cancer is primary to the oropharynx and not metastatic or a more specific adjacent-site diagnosis.