ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip Oral Cavity And Pharynx: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group C14 includes malignant neoplasms of other specified and ill-defined sites in the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx, covering tumors that cannot be classified to more specific anatomical subsite codes. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document cancers when the primary tumor location is either atypical, not well specified in documentation, or spans multiple contiguous sites, capturing disease extent and site uncertainty. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM C14 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM C14: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip, Oral Cavity And Pharynx Overview

This group represents malignant tumors located in sites of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx that are specified as other or ill-defined and do not fit more specific site codes. It targets cancers of mucosal surfaces and adjacent structures in the head and neck region. Accurate coding matters for clinical records, epidemiology, and reimbursement because site-specific detail affects staging, treatment planning, and claim adjudication.

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ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip Oral Cavity And Pharynx: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM C14: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip, Oral Cavity And Pharynx Overview

When to Use

Assign a code from this group when documentation indicates a malignant neoplasm in the lip, oral cavity, or pharynx but the exact anatomical subsite is unspecified, atypical, or involves multiple contiguous areas. Use these codes to reflect site uncertainty or when clinical records lack the detail necessary for a more specific ICD-10-CM code.

ICD-10-CM Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
C14.0	Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified
C14.2	Malignant neoplasm of Waldeyer's ring
C14.8	Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
011	Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC
012	Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC
013	Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC
146	Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Malignancy with MCC
147	Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Malignancy with CC
148	Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Malignancy without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult with progressive dysphagia, odynophagia, and a nonhealing ulcerated mass at the base of the tongue noticed over several months presents for evaluation; imaging and endoscopic biopsy confirm a malignant lesion originating in the oropharyngeal mucosa that cannot be clearly localized to a single named subsite. A diagnosis from this group is assigned because the tumor involves other or ill-defined sites of the oral cavity and pharynx rather than a specific site code. Typical codes: C14.0, C14.8
A middle-aged patient presents to the emergency department with sudden onset airway compromise and a rapidly enlarging mass in the lateral pharyngeal wall; urgent airway management and biopsy in the operating room reveal an aggressive carcinoma involving the oropharynx with extension across subsites. Because the malignancy spans or arises in an ill-defined area of the lip/oral cavity/pharynx and immediate care is required, a code from this group is used to capture the acute presentation of a tumor in other or ill-defined sites. Typical codes: C14.2, C14.8
A patient with a history of head and neck cancer treated previously with radiotherapy presents for surveillance with persistent pain and an indurated lesion at the retromolar trigone that is biopsy‑positive for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma; the lesion’s exact primary subsite is uncertain due to postradiation changes and prior resections. A code from this group is assigned to indicate recurrent or persistent malignant neoplasm involving another or ill-defined site of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx as a comorbid condition impacting further management. Typical codes: C14.2, C14.8

Related Codes

C00-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-LIP

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Lip: Group Overview

C01-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-BASE-OF-TONGUE

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Base Of Tongue: Group Overview

C02-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-TONGUE

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Parts Of Tongue: Group Overview

C03-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-GUM

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Gum: Group Overview

C04-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-FLOOR-OF-MOUTH

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Floor Of Mouth: Group Overview

C05-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-PALATE

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Palate: Group Overview

C06-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-MOUTH

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Parts Of Mouth: Group Overview

C07-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-PAROTID-GLAND

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Parotid Gland: Group Overview

C08-MALIGNANT-SALIVARY-GLAND-NEOPLASMS

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Major Salivary Glands: Group Overview

C09-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-TONSIL

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Tonsil: Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 14

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
C14.0	Malignant neoplasm of pharynx, unspecified
C14.2	Malignant neoplasm of Waldeyer's ring
C14.8	Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of lip, oral cavity and pharynx

DRG Codes

6 rows

DRG Code	Description
011	Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC
012	Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC
013	Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC
146	Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Malignancy with MCC
147	Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Malignancy with CC
148	Ear, Nose, Mouth and Throat Malignancy without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult with progressive dysphagia, odynophagia, and a nonhealing ulcerated mass at the base of the tongue noticed over several months presents for evaluation; imaging and endoscopic biopsy confirm a malignant lesion originating in the oropharyngeal mucosa that cannot be clearly localized to a single named subsite. A diagnosis from this group is assigned because the tumor involves other or ill-defined sites of the oral cavity and pharynx rather than a specific site code. Typical codes: C14.0, C14.8
A middle-aged patient presents to the emergency department with sudden onset airway compromise and a rapidly enlarging mass in the lateral pharyngeal wall; urgent airway management and biopsy in the operating room reveal an aggressive carcinoma involving the oropharynx with extension across subsites. Because the malignancy spans or arises in an ill-defined area of the lip/oral cavity/pharynx and immediate care is required, a code from this group is used to capture the acute presentation of a tumor in other or ill-defined sites. Typical codes: C14.2, C14.8
A patient with a history of head and neck cancer treated previously with radiotherapy presents for surveillance with persistent pain and an indurated lesion at the retromolar trigone that is biopsy‑positive for recurrent squamous cell carcinoma; the lesion’s exact primary subsite is uncertain due to postradiation changes and prior resections. A code from this group is assigned to indicate recurrent or persistent malignant neoplasm involving another or ill-defined site of the lip, oral cavity, and pharynx as a comorbid condition impacting further management. Typical codes: C14.2, C14.8

Related Codes

C00-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-LIP

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Lip: Group Overview

C01-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-BASE-OF-TONGUE

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Base Of Tongue: Group Overview

C02-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-TONGUE

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Parts Of Tongue: Group Overview

C03-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-GUM

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Gum: Group Overview

C04-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-FLOOR-OF-MOUTH

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Floor Of Mouth: Group Overview

C05-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-PALATE

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Palate: Group Overview

C06-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-MOUTH

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Parts Of Mouth: Group Overview

C07-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-PAROTID-GLAND

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Parotid Gland: Group Overview

C08-MALIGNANT-SALIVARY-GLAND-NEOPLASMS

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Major Salivary Glands: Group Overview

C09-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-TONSIL

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Tonsil: Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 14

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip Oral Cavity And Pharynx: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip Oral Cavity And Pharynx: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM C14: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip, Oral Cavity And Pharynx Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip Oral Cavity And Pharynx: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip Oral Cavity And Pharynx: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM C14: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Lip, Oral Cavity And Pharynx Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-CM codes are included in the C14 group?

When should a coder use a C14 code instead of a more specific site code?

How does accurate coding within the C14 group affect reimbursement and claims?

Which related DRGs may apply to diagnoses in the C14 group?

What clinical scenarios are reflected by the C14 category?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-CM codes are included in the C14 group?

When should a coder use a C14 code instead of a more specific site code?

How does accurate coding within the C14 group affect reimbursement and claims?

Which related DRGs may apply to diagnoses in the C14 group?

What clinical scenarios are reflected by the C14 category?

References