ICD-10-PCS Code For Mediastinum: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group DB16 includes procedures performed to deliver internal radiation therapy in the mediastinum. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when brachytherapy is administered to treat mediastinal lesions or to provide targeted radiation to respiratory system structures in the chest. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS DB16 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Mediastinum Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Procedures in this group involve the internal delivery of radiation directly to the mediastinum within the respiratory system using brachytherapy techniques. These inpatient procedures target malignant or locally advanced lesions in mediastinal tissues and adjacent respiratory structures. Accurate coding ensures the procedure is reflected in the medical record and supports appropriate inpatient reimbursement and case mix assignment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
D	Section	Radiation Therapy
B	Body System	Respiratory System
1	Operation	Brachytherapy
6	Body Part	Mediastinum

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Mediastinum: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Mediastinum Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
D	Section	Radiation Therapy
B	Body System	Respiratory System
1	Operation	Brachytherapy
6	Body Part	Mediastinum

When to Use

Use a code from this group when inpatient brachytherapy is performed targeting mediastinal structures of the respiratory system. Codes apply when radioactive material is implanted, inserted, or placed to deliver therapeutic radiation directly to mediastinal tissue.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

14 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
DB1697Z	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Cesium 137 (Cs-137)
DB1698Z	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iridium 192 (Ir-192)
DB1699Z	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iodine 125 (I-125)
DB169BZ	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Palladium 103 (Pd-103)
DB169CZ	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Californium 252 (Cf-252)
DB169YZ	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Other Isotope
DB16B6Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Cesium 131 (Cs-131)
DB16B7Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Cesium 137 (Cs-137)
DB16B8Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iridium 192 (Ir-192)
DB16B9Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iodine 125 (I-125)

Showing 1–10 of 14

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer presenting with progressive dyspnea and symptomatic compression of mediastinal structures is admitted for planned palliative internal radiation to reduce tumor bulk and relieve airway or vascular obstruction; inpatient brachytherapy is used to deliver targeted high-activity radiation to mediastinal tumor deposits adjacent to major respiratory structures. Typical codes: DB1698Z, DB1699Z
A middle-aged patient with recurrent mediastinal lymphoma previously treated with external beam radiation undergoes a scheduled, image-guided implantation of low–dose-rate radioactive seeds to the mediastinum to provide focal control while limiting further external-beam exposure; the procedure is performed electively during an inpatient stay for postoperative monitoring and pain control. Typical codes: DB16B9Z, DB16BBZ
A postoperative patient develops a localized mediastinal tumor bed recurrence after surgical resection and requires urgent internal radiation placement because the lesion is in close proximity to critical respiratory structures and re-irradiation with external beam is contraindicated; inpatient brachytherapy is performed to deliver concentrated dose directly to the recurrent mediastinal focus. Typical codes: DB1697Z, DB16B8Z

Related Codes

DB10-TRACHEA-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Trachea: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB11-BRONCHUS-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Bronchus: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB12-LUNG-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lung: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB15-PLEURA-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleura: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB17-CHEST-WALL-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest Wall: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB18-DIAPHRAGM-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Diaphragm: Procedure Code 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-PCS Codes

14 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
DB1697Z	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Cesium 137 (Cs-137)
DB1698Z	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iridium 192 (Ir-192)
DB1699Z	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iodine 125 (I-125)
DB169BZ	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Palladium 103 (Pd-103)
DB169CZ	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Californium 252 (Cf-252)
DB169YZ	High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Other Isotope
DB16B6Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Cesium 131 (Cs-131)
DB16B7Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Cesium 137 (Cs-137)
DB16B8Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iridium 192 (Ir-192)
DB16B9Z	Low Dose Rate (LDR) Brachytherapy of Mediastinum using Iodine 125 (I-125)

Showing 1–10 of 14

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer presenting with progressive dyspnea and symptomatic compression of mediastinal structures is admitted for planned palliative internal radiation to reduce tumor bulk and relieve airway or vascular obstruction; inpatient brachytherapy is used to deliver targeted high-activity radiation to mediastinal tumor deposits adjacent to major respiratory structures. Typical codes: DB1698Z, DB1699Z
A middle-aged patient with recurrent mediastinal lymphoma previously treated with external beam radiation undergoes a scheduled, image-guided implantation of low–dose-rate radioactive seeds to the mediastinum to provide focal control while limiting further external-beam exposure; the procedure is performed electively during an inpatient stay for postoperative monitoring and pain control. Typical codes: DB16B9Z, DB16BBZ
A postoperative patient develops a localized mediastinal tumor bed recurrence after surgical resection and requires urgent internal radiation placement because the lesion is in close proximity to critical respiratory structures and re-irradiation with external beam is contraindicated; inpatient brachytherapy is performed to deliver concentrated dose directly to the recurrent mediastinal focus. Typical codes: DB1697Z, DB16B8Z

Related Codes

DB10-TRACHEA-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Trachea: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB11-BRONCHUS-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Bronchus: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB12-LUNG-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lung: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB15-PLEURA-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Pleura: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB17-CHEST-WALL-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Chest Wall: Procedure Code Group Overview

DB18-DIAPHRAGM-BRACHYTHERAPY

ICD-10-PCS Code For Diaphragm: Procedure Code 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-PCS Code For Mediastinum: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Mediastinum: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Mediastinum Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Mediastinum: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Mediastinum: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Mediastinum Brachytherapy Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group DB16 for the mediastinum?

What operation and body system attributes define the DB16 code group?

How is modality or isotope information represented within DB16 codes?

For what clinical situations are DB16 codes used in inpatient documentation?

Why is accurate coding within the DB16 group important for inpatient billing and reimbursement?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the ICD-10-PCS code group DB16 for the mediastinum?

What operation and body system attributes define the DB16 code group?

How is modality or isotope information represented within DB16 codes?

For what clinical situations are DB16 codes used in inpatient documentation?

Why is accurate coding within the DB16 group important for inpatient billing and reimbursement?

References