ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group C39 includes malignant neoplasms of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory system and intrathoracic organs, covering cancers of structures like the heart, mediastinum, pleura, and unspecified intrathoracic locations. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document primary malignant tumors when the neoplasm site is specified as other or ill-defined within the respiratory and intrathoracic region, capturing organ involvement and diagnostic specificity. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM C39 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM C39: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs Overview

This code group represents malignant tumors located in respiratory and intrathoracic sites that are not otherwise specified or are described as ill-defined. It targets cancers arising in areas such as the heart, mediastinum, pleura, and other contiguous intrathoracic structures. Accurate coding matters for complete clinical records and supports appropriate reimbursement and claim processing.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a primary malignant neoplasm is documented in an intrathoracic site that is described as other specified or ill-defined within the respiratory and intrathoracic region. Select the most specific code available that reflects the documented site and diagnostic information in the clinical record.

ICD-10-CM Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
C39.0	Malignant neoplasm of upper respiratory tract, part unspecified
C39.9	Malignant neoplasm of lower respiratory tract, part unspecified

DRG Codes

9 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
180	Respiratory Neoplasms with MCC
181	Respiratory Neoplasms with CC
182	Respiratory Neoplasms without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with progressive dyspnea, chest pain, and unexplained weight loss is found on chest CT to have an irregular intrathoracic mass involving the superior mediastinum that cannot be clearly localized to lung, pleura, or trachea. Biopsy confirms a poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm arising in an intrathoracic organ with uncertain primary site, prompting assignment of a code for malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory and intrathoracic organs. Typical codes: C39.9.
A middle-aged smoker presents to the emergency department with sudden onset hemoptysis and acute respiratory distress; imaging shows a centrally located mass at the thoracic inlet causing airway compromise and endobronchial bleeding, but the exact anatomic origin is indeterminate on initial evaluation. Because the malignancy is within the respiratory or intrathoracic region but not clearly attributable to a specific structure, an ill-defined site code from this group is used pending further workup. Typical codes: C39.0, C39.9.
A patient with known metastatic disease to intrathoracic soft tissues develops progressive dysphagia and superior vena cava syndrome; tumor involvement is documented in intrathoracic tissues that are not part of the lung, pleura, or trachea and is described as malignant neoplasm of other intrathoracic sites on pathology. In this chronic complication/comorbidity setting, a code for malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined intrathoracic sites is assigned to capture the intrathoracic tumor location. Typical codes: C39.0, C39.9.

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Nasal Cavity And Middle Ear: Group Overview

C31-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-ACCESSORY-SINUSES

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

C32-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-LARYNX

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

C33-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-TRACHEA

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

C34-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-BRONCHUS-AND-LUNG

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Bronchus And Lung: Group Overview

C37-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-THYMUS

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

C38-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-HEART-MEDIASTINUM-PLEURA

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Heart Mediastinum And Pleura: Group Overview

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

2 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
C39.0	Malignant neoplasm of upper respiratory tract, part unspecified
C39.9	Malignant neoplasm of lower respiratory tract, part unspecified

DRG Codes

9 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
180	Respiratory Neoplasms with MCC
181	Respiratory Neoplasms with CC
182	Respiratory Neoplasms without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with progressive dyspnea, chest pain, and unexplained weight loss is found on chest CT to have an irregular intrathoracic mass involving the superior mediastinum that cannot be clearly localized to lung, pleura, or trachea. Biopsy confirms a poorly differentiated malignant neoplasm arising in an intrathoracic organ with uncertain primary site, prompting assignment of a code for malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined sites in the respiratory and intrathoracic organs. Typical codes: C39.9.
A middle-aged smoker presents to the emergency department with sudden onset hemoptysis and acute respiratory distress; imaging shows a centrally located mass at the thoracic inlet causing airway compromise and endobronchial bleeding, but the exact anatomic origin is indeterminate on initial evaluation. Because the malignancy is within the respiratory or intrathoracic region but not clearly attributable to a specific structure, an ill-defined site code from this group is used pending further workup. Typical codes: C39.0, C39.9.
A patient with known metastatic disease to intrathoracic soft tissues develops progressive dysphagia and superior vena cava syndrome; tumor involvement is documented in intrathoracic tissues that are not part of the lung, pleura, or trachea and is described as malignant neoplasm of other intrathoracic sites on pathology. In this chronic complication/comorbidity setting, a code for malignant neoplasm of other and ill-defined intrathoracic sites is assigned to capture the intrathoracic tumor location. Typical codes: C39.0, C39.9.

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Nasal Cavity And Middle Ear: Group Overview

C31-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-ACCESSORY-SINUSES

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

C32-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-LARYNX

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

C33-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-TRACHEA

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

C34-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-BRONCHUS-AND-LUNG

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Bronchus And Lung: Group Overview

C37-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OF-THYMUS

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

C38-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-HEART-MEDIASTINUM-PLEURA

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Heart Mediastinum And Pleura: Group Overview

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 Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM C39: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM C39: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM C39: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM C39: Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites In The Respiratory System And Intrathoracic Organs Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What does ICD-10-CM code group C39 represent?

Which specific codes are included in the C39 group?

Why is accurate coding within the C39 group important?

Which DRGs are related to malignant neoplasms in this respiratory and intrathoracic group?

When should a coder use a C39 code instead of a site-specific respiratory cancer code?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What does ICD-10-CM code group C39 represent?

Which specific codes are included in the C39 group?

Why is accurate coding within the C39 group important?

Which DRGs are related to malignant neoplasms in this respiratory and intrathoracic group?

When should a coder use a C39 code instead of a site-specific respiratory cancer code?

References