2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C78Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs

ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›C76-C80›C78

ICD-10-CM C78
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

C78 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as C78.00, C78.01, C78.02, and C78.1.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C78
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs
Short Description
Secondary malignant neoplasm of resp and digestive organs
Chapter
C76-C80
Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC76-C80Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites
CategoryC78Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs
This CodeC78Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs

Specific Coding for Secondary malignant neoplasm of resp and digestive organsOverview

Non-specific codes like C78 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • C78.0 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung

  • Use C78.00 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified lung

  • Use C78.01 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of right lung

  • Use C78.02 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of left lung

  • Use C78.1 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of mediastinum

  • Use C78.2 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of pleura

  • C78.3 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified respiratory organs

  • Use C78.30 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified respiratory organ

  • Use C78.31 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of larynx

  • Use C78.32 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of pharynx

  • Use C78.39 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs

  • Use C78.4 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of small intestine

  • Use C78.5 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of large intestine and rectum

  • Use C78.6 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum

  • Use C78.7 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct

  • C78.8 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified digestive organs

  • Use C78.80 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified digestive organ

  • Use C78.89 for Secondary malignant neoplasm of other digestive organs

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to C78: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 2. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • secondary carcinoid tumors of liver (C7B.02)
  • secondary carcinoid tumors of peritoneum (C7B.04)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

  • lymph node metastases (C77.0)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 2 (C00-D49) Neoplasms applies to 1,730 codes
  • Functional activity
  • All neoplasms are classified in this chapter, whether they are functionally active or not. An additional code from Chapter 4 may be used, to identify functional activity associated with any neoplasm.
  • Morphology [Histology]
  • Chapter 2 classifies neoplasms primarily by site (topography), with broad groupings for behavior, malignant, in situ, benign, etc. The Table of Neoplasms should be used to identify the correct topography code. In a few cases, such as for malignant melanoma and certain neuroendocrine tumors, the morphology (histologic type) is included in the category and codes.
  • Primary malignant neoplasms overlapping site boundaries
  • A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion'), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
  • Malignant neoplasm of ectopic tissue
  • Malignant neoplasms of ectopic tissue are to be coded to the site mentioned, e.g., ectopic pancreatic malignant neoplasms are coded to pancreas, unspecified (C25.9).

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name C78, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 2

These notes mention C78.

  • Z85.8 Personal history of malignant neoplasms of other organs and systems
    Conditions classifiable to C00-C14, C40-C49, C69-C75, C7A.098, C76-C79 names C76-C79, which includes this code
  • Z85.89 Personal history of malignant neoplasm of other organs and systems
    Conditions classifiable to C7A.098, C76, C77-C79 names C77-C79, which includes this code

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Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About C78Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs?

C78 is the ICD-10-CM category for secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is C78 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs need a more specific code from this category, such as C78.00, C78.01, and C78.02.

Can C78 be reported with C7B.02?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on C78 lists "secondary carcinoid tumors of liver (C7B.02)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).