2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code C78.39Secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs

ICD-10-CM CodesC00–D49C76-C80C78

ICD-10-CM C78.39
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

C78.39 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 180 through 182. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Secondary malignancies.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
C78.39
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs
Short Description
Secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified respiratory organs

Code Classification

ChapterC00–D49Neoplasms
SectionC76-C80Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites
CategoryC78Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs
This CodeC78.39Secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Adenoid cystic carcinoma of trachea
  • Malignant neoplasm of cartilage of nose
  • Malignant neoplasm of ethmoid sinus
  • Malignant neoplasm of eustachian tube
  • Malignant neoplasm of false cord
  • Malignant neoplasm of frontal sinus
  • Malignant neoplasm of junctional region of epiglottis
  • Malignant neoplasm of laryngeal aspect of aryepiglottic fold
  • Malignant neoplasm of mastoid
  • Malignant neoplasm of mastoid air cells
  • Malignant neoplasm of maxillary sinus
  • Malignant neoplasm of nasal septum
  • Malignant neoplasm of nasal skeleton
  • Malignant neoplasm of nasal vestibule
  • Malignant neoplasm of sphenoid sinus
  • Malignant neoplasm of subglottis
  • Malignant neoplasm of vocal cord
  • Metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma to trachea
  • Metastatic carcinoma to glottis
  • Metastatic carcinoma to larynx
  • Metastatic carcinoma to subglottis
  • Metastatic carcinoma to supraglottis
  • Metastatic carcinoma to vocal cord
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to accessory sinus
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to cartilage of nose
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to epiglottis
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to ethmoidal sinus
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to eustachian tube
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to false vocal cord
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to frontal sinus
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to glottis
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to hypopharynx
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to junctional region of epiglottis
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to laryngeal aspect of aryepiglottic fold
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to laryngeal commissure
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to laryngeal surface of epiglottis
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to larynx
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to mastoid air cells
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to maxillary sinus
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to middle ear
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to nasal cavity
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to nose
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to septum of nose
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to soft tissues of neck
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to sphenoidal sinus
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to subglottis
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to supraglottis
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to temporal bone
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to trachea
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to vestibule of nose
  • Metastatic malignant neoplasm to vocal cord
  • Metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma to nasal sinus
  • Neoplasm of cartilage of nose
  • Neoplasm of eustachian tube
  • Neoplasm of false vocal cord
  • Neoplasm of laryngeal aspect of aryepiglottic fold
  • Neoplasm of laryngeal surface of epiglottis
  • Neoplasm of mastoid air cells
  • Neoplasm of nasal vestibule
  • Tumor invasion into supraglottis
  • Undifferentiated carcinoma of nasal sinus

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR NEO070
Secondary malignancies
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Epiglottis

    a thin leaf-shaped cartilage that is covered with laryngeal mucosa and situated posterior to the root of the tongue and hyoid bone. during swallowing, the epiglottis folds back over the larynx inlet thus prevents foods from entering the airway.
  • Eustachian Tube

    a narrow passageway that connects the upper part of the throat to the tympanic cavity.
  • Glottis

    the vocal apparatus of the larynx, situated in the middle section of the larynx. glottis consists of the vocal folds and an opening (rima glottidis) between the folds.

Table of NeoplasmsClinical

Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.

SiteMalig.
Primary
Malig.
Secondary
Ca
in situ
BenignUncertainUnspec.
antrum (Highmore) (maxillary)C31.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
antrum (Highmore) (maxillary) tympanicumC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
aryepiglottic fold laryngeal aspectC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
arytenoid (cartilage)C32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
auditory canal (external) (skin) internalC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
auditory tubeC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
auricular canal (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] internalC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.2
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] arytenoidC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] bronchiC34.0C78.39D14.3D38.1D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] cricoidC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] cuneiformC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] epiglottisC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] larynx, laryngealC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] nose, nasalC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] thyroidC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] tracheaC33C78.39D02.1D14.2D38.1D49.1
cavity nasalC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
cavity tympanicC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
commissure laryngealC32.0C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
concha [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] noseC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
cord (true) (vocal)C32.0C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cord (true) (vocal) falseC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cricoid cartilageC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
cuneiform cartilageC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] innerC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] middleC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
epiglottisC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
epiglottis cartilageC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
epiglottis posterior (laryngeal) surfaceC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
epiglottis suprahyoid portionC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
ethmoid (sinus)C31.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
eustachian tubeC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
frontal sinusC31.2C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
glottisC32.0C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
interarytenoid fold laryngeal aspectC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NECC32.9C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC aryepiglottic foldC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC cartilage (arytenoid) (cricoid) (cuneiform) (thyroid)C32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC commissure (anterior) (posterior)C32.0C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC extrinsic NECC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC interarytenoid foldC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC intrinsicC32.0C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
larynx, laryngeal NEC ventricular bandC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
mastoid (air cells) (antrum) (cavity)C30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
maxilla, maxillary (superior) antrumC31.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
maxilla, maxillary (superior) sinusC31.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
mucosa nasalC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nares, naris (anterior) (posterior)C30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal cartilageC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal cavityC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal fossaC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal internalC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal mucosaC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal septumC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal turbinate (mucosa)C30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nose, nasal vestibuleC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
nostrilC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
septumC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
septum nasalC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sinus (accessory)C31.9C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sinus (accessory) ethmoidalC31.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sinus (accessory) frontalC31.2C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sinus (accessory) maxillaryC31.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sinus (accessory) nasal, paranasal NECC31.9C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sinus (accessory) sphenoidC31.3C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sphenoidC31.3C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
sphenoid sinusC31.3C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
subglottis, subglotticC32.2C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
supraglottisC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
thyroid (gland) cartilageC32.3C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
trachea (cartilage) (mucosa)C33C78.39D02.1D14.2D38.1D49.1
tracheobronchialC34.8C78.39D02.1D14.2D38.1D49.1
turbinate (bone) nasalC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
tympanic cavityC30.1C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
ventricular band of larynxC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
vestibule noseC30.0C78.39D02.3D14.0D38.5D49.1
vocal cords (true)C32.0C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
vocal cords (true) falseC32.1C78.39D02.0D14.1D38.0D49.1
windpipeC33C78.39D02.1D14.2D38.1D49.1

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Convert C78.39 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
197.3 Sec malig neo resp NEC
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About C78.39Overview

Is C78.39 a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does C78.39 group to?

When secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 180, 181, 182, with relative weights from 0.7440 to 1.7660 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of C78.39?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, secondary malignant neoplasm of other respiratory organs converts to ICD-9-CM 197.3 (sec malig neo resp NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.