2021 ICD-10-CM Code C15.4
Malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus
Valid for Submission
C15.4 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus. The code C15.4 is valid during the fiscal year 2021 from October 01, 2020 through September 30, 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.
The ICD-10-CM code C15.4 might also be used to specify conditions or terms like carcinoma of middle third of esophagus, carcinoma of thoracic part of esophagus, malignant tumor of middle third of esophagus, malignant tumor of thoracic part of esophagus, neoplasm of middle third of esophagus , neoplasm of thoracic esophagus, etc.
The following anatomical sites found in the Table of Neoplasms apply to this code given the correct histological behavior: Neoplasm, neoplastic esophagus middle (third) or Neoplasm, neoplastic esophagus thoracic .
| ICD-10: | C15.4 |
| Short Description: | Malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus |
| Long Description: | Malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus |
Code Classification
Approximate Synonyms
The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:
- Carcinoma of middle third of esophagus
- Carcinoma of thoracic part of esophagus
- Malignant tumor of middle third of esophagus
- Malignant tumor of thoracic part of esophagus
- Neoplasm of middle third of esophagus
- Neoplasm of thoracic esophagus
- pM1a: Distant metastasis
- pM1a: Distant metastasis
- pM1a: Distant metastasis
- pM1a: Distant metastasis not applicable
- pM1a: Metastasis in celiac lymph nodes
- pM1a: Metastasis in cervical nodes
- pM1b: Distant metastasis
- pM1b: Distant metastasis
- pM1b: Distant metastasis
- pM1b: Distant metastasis to site other than celiac lymph nodes
- pM1b: Distant metastasis to site other than cervical nodes
- pM1b: Nonregional lymph nodes AND/OR other distant metastasis
- Primary adenocarcinoma of middle third of esophagus
- Primary malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus
- Primary malignant neoplasm of thoracic esophagus
- Primary squamous cell carcinoma of middle third of esophagus
Diagnostic Related Groups - MS-DRG Mapping
The ICD-10 code C15.4 is grouped in the following groups for version MS-DRG V38.0 What are Diagnostic Related Groups?
The Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs) are a patient classification scheme which provides a means of relating the type of patients a hospital treats. The DRGs divides all possible principal diagnoses into mutually exclusive principal diagnosis areas referred to as Major Diagnostic Categories (MDC). applicable from 10/01/2020 through 09/30/2021.
Convert C15.4 to ICD-9 Code
The General Equivalency Mapping (GEM) crosswalk indicates an approximate mapping between the ICD-10 code C15.4 its ICD-9 equivalent. The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 code and the ICD-9 code and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.
Table of Neoplasms
The code C15.4 is included in the table of neoplasms by anatomical site. For each site there are six possible code numbers according to whether the neoplasm in question is malignant, benign, in situ, of uncertain behavior, or of unspecified nature. The description of the neoplasm will often indicate which of the six columns is appropriate.
Where such descriptors are not present, the remainder of the Index should be consulted where guidance is given to the appropriate column for each morphological (histological) variety listed. However, the guidance in the Index can be overridden if one of the descriptors mentioned above is present.
| Neoplasm, neoplastic | Malignant Primary |
Malignant Secondary |
CaInSitu | Benign | Uncertain Behavior |
Unspecified Behavior |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| »Neoplasm, neoplastic »esophagus »middle (third) | C15.4 | C78.89 | D00.1 | D13.0 | D37.8 | D49.0 |
| »Neoplasm, neoplastic »esophagus »thoracic | C15.4 | C78.89 | D00.1 | D13.0 | D37.8 | D49.0 |
Information for Patients
Esophageal Cancer
The esophagus is a hollow tube that carries food and liquids from your throat to your stomach. Early esophageal cancer usually does not cause symptoms. Later, you may have symptoms such as
- Painful or difficult swallowing
- Weight loss
- A hoarse voice or cough that doesn't go away
You're at greater risk for getting esophageal cancer if you smoke, drink heavily, or have acid reflux. Your risk also goes up as you age
Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to diagnose esophageal cancer. Treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. You might also need nutritional support, since the cancer or treatment may make it hard to swallow.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
- Coughing up blood (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Diet and eating after esophagectomy (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Esophageal cancer (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Esophagectomy - minimally invasive (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Esophagectomy - open (Medical Encyclopedia)
- Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia)
[Learn More]
Code History
- FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
- FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
- FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
- FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
- FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
- FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016 (First year ICD-10-CM implemented into the HIPAA code set)