ICD-10 Code C44.211 – Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C44.211 – Basal cell carcinoma of skin of unspecified ear and external auricular canal
What it is
This code identifies a basal cell carcinoma located on the ear or external auricular canal when the documentation does not specify a more exact site. Use it for a malignant skin tumor arising in that area.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include a slow-growing pearly papule, a nonhealing sore, or a lesion that may bleed easily. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation and pathology when available.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents basal cell carcinoma of the ear, auricle, or external ear canal without further laterality or subsite detail. It also fits when the record confirms basal cell carcinoma in this region but does not distinguish a more specific ear location.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for nonmelanoma skin cancers at another body site, or when the documentation identifies a more specific ear subsite. Check documentation if the lesion is benign, uncertain, or not confirmed as basal cell carcinoma.
Coding tip
Query for laterality and exact anatomic site whenever the record only says “ear lesion” or “ear cancer.”