ICD-10-CM · Other

M27.1

M27.1 identifies a central giant cell granuloma — a non-neoplastic, inflammatory lesion arising within the jaw bone (mandible or maxilla), distinguished from the peripheral variant, which involves the gingival soft tissue.

Verified May 8, 2026 · 5 sources ↓

Status: Billable
Chapter: 13
Related CPT: 5
Region: Other

Drawn from CDCICD10DataAAPCIcdlistUnboundmedicine

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M27.1.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Specify 'central' location explicitly — documentation must distinguish intraosseous (central) from gingival (peripheral) to justify M27.1 over K06.8.
Record which jaw (mandible or maxilla) and laterality (right, left, or crossing midline) for surgical planning, even though M27.1 has no laterality subcode.
Include imaging findings (panoramic radiograph, CBCT, or CT) describing the expansile lucent lesion, cortical thinning, or root resorption that confirm an intraosseous process.
Document biopsy or pathology results confirming giant cell granuloma — especially multinucleated giant cells — to support the specificity of this code over a general jaw lesion code.
Note any prior treatment history (corticosteroid injection, calcitonin, denosumab, prior curettage) relevant to recurrence cases.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M27.1. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

21040 $479.97

Surgical removal of a benign tumor or cyst from the mandible by enucleation and/or curettage, without osteotomy.

21044 $764.88

Open surgical excision of a malignant tumor from the mandible (lower jaw bone), performed via intraoral or extraoral approach.

21045 $1,061.15

Surgical removal or resection of the mandible involving extensive bone and soft tissue work, typically indicated for aggressive tumors, severe infection, or significant traumatic defect requiring wide-field operative exposure.

21046 $899.49

Excision of a benign tumor or cyst of the mandible requiring an intra-oral osteotomy, used for locally aggressive or destructive lesions that cannot be managed by simple enucleation or curettage alone.

21047 $1,076.51

Excision of a benign cyst or tumor of the mandible (lower jaw) using an extraoral approach with osteotomy and partial mandibulectomy, including repair.

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M27.1 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

Assigning M27.1 for a peripheral giant cell granuloma (giant cell epulis on the gingiva) — that lesion codes to K06.8, which is a Type 1 Excludes from M27.1 and cannot be coded simultaneously.
Using a generic jaw or granuloma code (e.g., L92.9 or M27.9) when the pathology report and imaging clearly confirm a central giant cell granuloma — M27.1 is the specific, billable code and should be used.
Omitting the distinction between 'central' and 'peripheral' in the documentation, forcing the coder to default to an unspecified code when the provider's note would have supported M27.1.
Applying a 7th-character extension to M27.1 — no 7th character is valid for this M-code.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Use M27.1 when the diagnosing clinician documents a giant cell granuloma located centrally within the jawbone — most commonly the mandible. The 'central' designation is anatomically precise: the lesion originates inside the cortical bone, not on the gingival surface. If the lesion is peripheral (gingival / giant cell epulis), it is coded to K06.8, which is a Type 1 Excludes from M27.1 — these two codes cannot be used together.

M27.1 covers central giant cell reparative granuloma of the jaw and Giant cell granuloma NOS per the ICD-10-CM Tabular List. This code sits under parent M27 (Other diseases of jaws) in Chapter 13. Though Chapter 13 is the musculoskeletal chapter, this code is routinely billed in oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental oncology, and head-and-neck contexts. It maps to MS-DRG groups 157–159 (Dental and oral diseases) for inpatient encounters.

This code has no laterality subdivision — there is no separate code for mandible vs. maxilla or left vs. right jaw. Document which jaw and which side in the clinical note for surgical planning, but M27.1 is the single billable code regardless of exact intraosseous location. No 7th-character extension applies.

Inclusion & exclusion notes

Per the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

Source · CDC ICD-10-CM Official Tabular List · 2026

Includes

Giant cell granuloma NOS

Excludes 1 — never code together

peripheral giant cell granuloma (K06.8)

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M27 (laterality / anatomic variants).

M27.3

Alveolitis of jaws

M27.9

Disease of jaws, unspecified

M27.0

Developmental disorders of jaws

M27.2

Inflammatory conditions of jaws

M27.8

Other specified diseases of jaws

Frequently asked questions

Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 5 cited references ↓

01What is the difference between central and peripheral giant cell granuloma for coding purposes?

Central giant cell granuloma (M27.1) originates inside the jawbone. Peripheral giant cell granuloma arises on the gingival soft tissue and codes to K06.8. These are mutually exclusive per the Type 1 Excludes note — never use both on the same claim.

02Does M27.1 require a laterality modifier or 7th-character extension?

No. M27.1 has no laterality subcode and no 7th-character extension. Document the specific jaw and side in the clinical note for surgical purposes, but M27.1 is the single billable code regardless of location within the jaw.

03Which CPT codes are commonly paired with M27.1?

Surgical excision of jaw lesions typically maps to 21040 (excision of benign lesion of mandible, open), 21044 or 21045 (excision of malignant/odontogenic tumor — used when scope matches), or 21046/21047 for radical resection. Select based on the operative approach and extent of resection documented.

04Can M27.1 be used if a pathology report is pending at the time of billing?

If the clinical and imaging findings are consistent with a central giant cell granuloma and the provider documents that diagnosis, M27.1 is appropriate. If diagnosis is uncertain pending pathology, code the sign or symptom (e.g., expansile jaw lesion) until confirmed.

05What MS-DRGs does M27.1 map to for inpatient claims?

M27.1 groups to MS-DRG 157 (Dental and oral diseases with MCC), 158 (with CC), and 159 (without CC/MCC), as well as DRGs 011–013 if a tracheostomy is also performed. Select based on documented comorbidities and complications.

06Is M27.1 appropriate for recurrent central giant cell granuloma after prior curettage?

Yes. M27.1 covers both primary and recurrent central giant cell granuloma of the jaw. Document 'recurrent' in the clinical note and include prior treatment history; the code itself does not change, but the documentation supports medical necessity for more aggressive surgical intervention.

Sources & references

Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.

01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 (effective October 1, 2025)
02
icd10data.com
https://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M26-M27/M27-/M27.1
03
aapc.com
https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M27.1
04
icdlist.com
https://icdlist.com/icd-10/M27.1
05
unboundmedicine.com
https://www.unboundmedicine.com/icd/view/ICD-10-CM/871245/all/M27_1___Giant_cell_granuloma__central

Mira AI Scribe

Mira's AI scribe captures the lesion's intraosseous location (central vs. gingival), the affected jaw and side, imaging characteristics (expansile lucent lesion, cortical involvement, root resorption), and pathology results confirming multinucleated giant cells. Capturing 'central' explicitly prevents downcoding to K06.8 (peripheral) or the unspecified M27.9, which can trigger payer queries and delay authorization for surgical excision.

See how Mira captures M27.1 documentation