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    v1.0.28
    OpenPayerBilling CodesMalignant neoplasms of digestive organsICD-10-CM c26-malignant-neoplasm-other-ill-defined-digestive-organs
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Digestive Organs: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group C26 includes malignant neoplasms of digestive organs that are categorized as other or ill-defined when a specific anatomic site in the digestive system is not specified or does not fit other categories. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document cancers of miscellaneous or unspecified digestive sites, capturing disease extent, organ involvement, or diagnostic uncertainty relevant to this group. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM C26 group supports proper claim adjudication and complete clinical documentation and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM C26: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Digestive Organs Overview

    The diagnoses in this group represent malignant tumors originating in or involving digestive organs that are specified as "other" or "ill-defined" when a more specific site within the digestive system is not identified. These neoplasms affect the gastrointestinal tract and associated digestive tissues and can include cancers of areas not classified elsewhere. Accurate coding matters for reimbursement because it ensures claims reflect the true site and complexity of disease, supporting appropriate payment and continuity of care.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a malignant neoplasm involves a digestive organ but the clinical documentation does not specify a more precise anatomic site or the site falls into an "other" specified category. These codes apply when diagnostic uncertainty, atypical location, or documentation limits prevent assignment to a more specific digestive neoplasm code.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    3 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C26.0Malignant neoplasm of intestinal tract, part unspecified
    C26.1Malignant neoplasm of spleen
    C26.9Malignant neoplasm of ill-defined sites within the digestive system

    DRG Codes

    12 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    374Digestive Malignancy with MCC
    375Digestive Malignancy with CC
    376Digestive Malignancy without CC/MCC
    820Lymphoma and Leukemia with Major O.R. Procedures with MCC
    821Lymphoma and Leukemia with Major O.R. Procedures with CC
    822Lymphoma and Leukemia with Major O.R. Procedures without CC/MCC
    823Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures with MCC
    824Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures with CC
    825Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with Other Procedures without CC/MCC
    840Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with MCC
    841Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia with CC
    842Lymphoma and Non-Acute Leukemia without CC/MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • An elderly patient with progressive, unexplained weight loss, early satiety, and vague epigastric discomfort is found on imaging to have an infiltrative mass involving the retroperitoneal portion of the digestive tract without a clear organ of origin; endoscopic biopsy confirms a poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm arising in ill-defined digestive tissue. The patient presents for staging and treatment planning after histopathologic confirmation of a malignant tumor originating in non-specific digestive structures, so a code from this group is assigned for documentation of the primary site. Typical codes: C26.9
    • A middle-aged individual presents to the emergency department with acute gastrointestinal bleeding and shock; urgent imaging and operative exploration reveal a malignant tumor of the small intestine that extends into adjacent mesenteric tissues and is described by the surgeon as involving “other digestive organs” beyond a single identifiable organ. The operative and pathology reports specify a malignant neoplasm of other digestive organ sites, prompting assignment of a code from this group for the tumor location and acute presentation. Typical codes: C26.0, C26.1
    • A patient with a known history of a treated colorectal carcinoma develops recurrent disease documented on surveillance imaging with new lesions in peritoneal and retroperitoneal soft tissues that are not clearly confined to the colon or rectum; biopsy of one lesion shows metastatic malignant neoplasm in other digestive organ tissues. During oncology follow-up and palliative care planning, a code from this group is used to capture malignant involvement of other or ill-defined digestive organ sites as a comorbidity affecting management. Typical codes: C26.1, C26.9

    Related Codes

    C15-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-ESOPHAGUS

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

    C16-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-STOMACH

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

    C17-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-SMALL-INTESTINE

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

    C18-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-COLON

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

    C19-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-RECTOSIGMOID-JUNCTION

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

    C20-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-RECTUM

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

    C21-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-ANUS-AND-ANAL-CANAL

    ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Anus And Anal Canal: Group Overview

    C22-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-LIVER

    ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Liver And Intrahepatic Bile Ducts: Group Overview

    C23-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-GALLBLADDER

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

    C24-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-BILIARY-TRACT

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

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 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. 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. 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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