C44.22

⚠ Non-billable (Header)

Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal

Neoplasms (C00-D49)

⚠️ This is a category header code — not billable. Use a more specific child code below.

Check This Code

❌ Excludes1

inherited

Rules inherited from parent codes in the hierarchy.

  • connective tissue of ear (C49.0)
  • Kaposi's sarcoma of skin (C46.0)
  • malignant melanoma of skin (C43.-)
  • malignant neoplasm of skin of genital organs (C51-C52, C60.-, C63.2)
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (C4A.-)

Clinical Description

ICD-10-CM code C44.22 represents squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal. This code falls under the Neoplasms (C00-D49) classification. It is a non-billable category header code. A more specific child code from the list below must be used for billing and reimbursement purposes.

This is a 6-character code at the 5th level of specificity. There are 3 more specific child codes under C44.22. Coders should note that C44.22 has 5 Excludes1 restriction(s) — codes that cannot be reported together on the same claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ICD-10 code C44.22?

ICD-10-CM code C44.22 is "Squamous cell carcinoma of skin of ear and external auricular canal". It belongs to the category: Neoplasms (C00-D49).

Is C44.22 a billable ICD-10 code?

No, C44.22 is a non-billable header code. A more specific child code must be used for billing.

What codes are excluded with C44.22?

C44.22 has 5 Excludes1 rule(s). These codes are mutually exclusive and cannot be coded together on the same claim.

🧪 Validate Combinations

Add C44.22 to the Excludes Checker to validate against your full code list.

Open in Checker →

Code Information

CodeC44.22
BillableNo — Header code
ParentC44.2
CategoryNeoplasms (C00-D49)
Excludes15 rule(s)
Excludes20 note(s)
Child codes3

Data Source

CMS ICD-10-CM 2026 Tabular List

Updated October 1, 2025 (FY2026)