ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group J92 includes diagnoses for pleural plaque and other localized pleural thickening typically associated with prior asbestos exposure and chronic pleural injury. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical findings of pleural plaque, capturing disease location, chronicity, and relation to occupational or environmental exposure when relevant. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM J92 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview policy alerts

Get alerted when relevant policies change without checking for updates manually.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

ICD-10-CM J92: Pleural Plaque Overview

The diagnoses in this group identify pleural plaque, a manifestation of pleural disease typically related to prior asbestos exposure and representing localized pleural thickening. These conditions affect the pleural membranes surrounding the lungs and can be markers of chronic pleural injury. Accurate coding matters for appropriate clinical documentation and supports correct reimbursement for evaluation and management of pleural disease.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when clinical evaluation or imaging documents pleural plaque or localized pleural thickening without separate acute pleural disease. Assign codes that reflect documented location and chronicity and include exposure history when it is recorded in the medical record.

ICD-10-CM Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
J92.0	Pleural plaque with presence of asbestos
J92.9	Pleural plaque without asbestos

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
193	Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC
194	Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC
195	Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older patient with a long history of occupational asbestos exposure attends a routine pulmonary follow-up for monitoring. Imaging with chest radiograph or CT performed for surveillance demonstrates calcified focal pleural plaques on the parietal pleura without symptoms or acute pleural disease; the finding is documented as pleural plaques identified incidentally. Typical codes: J92.0.
A middle-aged construction worker presents to outpatient clinic with chronic exertional dyspnea and pleuritic chest discomfort; prior imaging shows diffuse pleural thickening and noncalcified plaques consistent with asbestos-related pleural disease contributing to restrictive physiology. The clinician documents pleural plaques as a chronic asbestos-associated pleural condition that is part of the patient’s ongoing respiratory morbidity. Typical codes: J92.0, J92.9.
An emergency department patient with a history of asbestos exposure is evaluated after blunt chest trauma; chest CT obtained for trauma reveals preexisting pleural plaques in addition to acute findings requiring separate management. The pleural plaques are recorded as a comorbid chronic pleural abnormality present at the time of the acute visit. Typical codes: J92.9.

ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Effusion Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

J91-PLEURAL-EFFUSION-CONDITIONS

ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Effusion In Conditions Classified Elsewhere: Group Overview

J93-PNEUMOTHORAX-AND-AIR-LEAK

ICD-10-CM Code For Pneumothorax And Air Leak: Group Overview

J94-OTHER-PLEURAL-CONDITIONS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Pleural Conditions: 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.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

2 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
J92.0	Pleural plaque with presence of asbestos
J92.9	Pleural plaque without asbestos

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
193	Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with MCC
194	Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy with CC
195	Simple Pneumonia and Pleurisy without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older patient with a long history of occupational asbestos exposure attends a routine pulmonary follow-up for monitoring. Imaging with chest radiograph or CT performed for surveillance demonstrates calcified focal pleural plaques on the parietal pleura without symptoms or acute pleural disease; the finding is documented as pleural plaques identified incidentally. Typical codes: J92.0.
A middle-aged construction worker presents to outpatient clinic with chronic exertional dyspnea and pleuritic chest discomfort; prior imaging shows diffuse pleural thickening and noncalcified plaques consistent with asbestos-related pleural disease contributing to restrictive physiology. The clinician documents pleural plaques as a chronic asbestos-associated pleural condition that is part of the patient’s ongoing respiratory morbidity. Typical codes: J92.0, J92.9.
An emergency department patient with a history of asbestos exposure is evaluated after blunt chest trauma; chest CT obtained for trauma reveals preexisting pleural plaques in addition to acute findings requiring separate management. The pleural plaques are recorded as a comorbid chronic pleural abnormality present at the time of the acute visit. Typical codes: J92.9.

ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Effusion Not Elsewhere Classified: Group Overview

J91-PLEURAL-EFFUSION-CONDITIONS

ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Effusion In Conditions Classified Elsewhere: Group Overview

J93-PNEUMOTHORAX-AND-AIR-LEAK

ICD-10-CM Code For Pneumothorax And Air Leak: Group Overview

J94-OTHER-PLEURAL-CONDITIONS

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Pleural Conditions: 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 Pleural Plaque: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM J92: Pleural Plaque Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM J92: Pleural Plaque 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 Pleural Plaque: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM J92: Pleural Plaque Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Pleural Plaque: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM J92: Pleural Plaque Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnoses are included in ICD-10-CM group J92?

Why is accurate coding within the J92 group important?

How does the J92 group capture disease details?

Which related DRGs may be relevant when coding pleural plaque conditions?

How do the specific `J92` codes differ in reporting asbestos exposure?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnoses are included in ICD-10-CM group J92?

Why is accurate coding within the J92 group important?

How does the J92 group capture disease details?

Which related DRGs may be relevant when coding pleural plaque conditions?

How do the specific `J92` codes differ in reporting asbestos exposure?

References