ICD-10 Code C17.9 – Malignant neoplasm of small intestine, unspecified (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C17.9 – Malignant neoplasm of small intestine, unspecified
What it is
C17.9 identifies a malignant tumor arising in the small intestine when the exact site is not specified. Use it when documentation confirms small bowel cancer but does not name the duodenum, jejunum, or ileum.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly recorded findings include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, anemia, obstruction, or bleeding, but you should code only what is clinically documented.
When to use this code
Use C17.9 when the provider documents primary malignant neoplasm of the small intestine and no more specific subsite is stated. It also fits cases where pathology or imaging confirms small bowel cancer, but the record remains nonspecific. Do not guess the location from context.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for benign small intestinal tumors, metastatic disease to the small intestine, or cancers with a documented specific subsite such as duodenum, jejunum, or ileum. Check documentation.
Coding tip
If the note says “small intestine cancer” without a subsite, C17.9 is appropriate; if a subsite is named, code that specific location instead.