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    OpenPayerBilling CodesMalignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sitesICD-10-CM c78-secondary-malignant-neoplasm-respiratory-digestive
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    ICD-10-CM Code For Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Respiratory And Digestive Organs: Group Overview

    The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group C78 includes secondary malignant neoplasms involving respiratory and digestive organs such as lung, pleura, mediastinum, liver, and other intra-abdominal sites that represent metastatic disease. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios involving metastatic spread to specific thoracic or abdominal organs, capturing organ involvement and disease complexity relevant to treatment and monitoring. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM C78 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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    ICD-10-CM C78: Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Respiratory And Digestive Organs Overview

    The ICD-10-CM C78 group represents secondary malignant neoplasms that have metastasized to respiratory and digestive organ sites, including lungs, pleura, mediastinum, liver, and other intra-abdominal organs. These codes identify metastatic disease rather than primary tumors and target organ systems affected by spread. Accurate coding matters for capturing disease extent, guiding clinical documentation, and supporting appropriate reimbursement for services related to metastatic cancer care.

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    When to Use

    Use a code from this group when a clinician documents metastatic malignancy to respiratory or digestive organ sites and the specific organ site of metastasis is identified. These codes apply in clinical records, operative notes, imaging reports, pathology results, or discharge summaries that state secondary malignant neoplasm of the listed organs.

    ICD-10-CM Codes

    13 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    C78.00Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified lung
    C78.01Secondary malignant neoplasm of right lung
    C78.02Secondary malignant neoplasm of left lung
    C78.1Secondary malignant neoplasm of mediastinum
    C78.2Secondary malignant neoplasm of pleura
    C78.30Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified respiratory organ
    C78.39Secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs
    C78.4Secondary malignant neoplasm of small intestine
    C78.5Secondary malignant neoplasm of large intestine and rectum
    C78.6Secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum
    C78.7Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct
    C78.80Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified digestive organ
    C78.89Secondary malignant neoplasm of other digestive organs

    DRG Codes

    9 rows

    DRG CodeDescription
    180Respiratory Neoplasms with MCC
    181Respiratory Neoplasms with CC
    182Respiratory Neoplasms without CC/MCC
    374Digestive Malignancy with MCC
    375Digestive Malignancy with CC
    376Digestive Malignancy without CC/MCC
    435Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with MCC
    436Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas with CC
    437Malignancy of Hepatobiliary System or Pancreas without CC/MCC

    Typical Clinical Scenarios

    • An elderly patient with a known colorectal primary presents to the ED with progressive shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. Chest CT demonstrates multiple pulmonary nodules and a moderate right-sided pleural effusion; thoracentesis cytology is consistent with metastatic adenocarcinoma from the colorectal primary. A secondary lung/pleural metastasis code from this group is assigned to reflect metastatic disease to the respiratory structures. Typical codes: C78.00, C78.1
    • A middle-aged patient with a history of breast cancer in remission develops persistent jaundice and right upper-quadrant pain during routine oncology follow-up; imaging reveals multiple hepatic lesions and biliary obstruction from metastatic disease. Because the metastases involve the liver and biliary tree within the digestive organs, a secondary digestive organ metastasis code is used to document the site-specific spread. Typical codes: C78.7, C78.4
    • A patient with advanced lung carcinoma admitted for worsening dysphagia and new-onset melena is found on endoscopy to have multiple gastric and duodenal lesions consistent with metastatic involvement of the upper gastrointestinal tract. This acute complication of the primary malignancy—metastasis to digestive tract mucosa causing bleeding and obstruction—warrants assignment of a secondary malignant neoplasm code for digestive organ metastasis. Typical codes: C78.5, C78.2

    Related Codes

    C76-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-OTHER-ILL-DEFINED-SITES

    ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Ill-Defined Sites: Group Overview

    C77-SECONDARY-AND-UNSPECIFIED-LYMPH-NODE-NEOPLASMS

    ICD-10-CM Code For Secondary And Unspecified Malignant Neoplasm Of Lymph Nodes: Group Overview

    C79-SECONDARY-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM

    ICD-10-CM Code For Secondary Malignant Neoplasm Of Other And Unspecified Sites: Group Overview

    C80-MALIGNANT-NEOPLASM-UNSPECIFIED

    ICD-10-CM Code For Malignant Neoplasm Without Specification Of Site: 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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