2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D38.5Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs
ICD-10-CM Codes›C00–D49›D37-D48›D38
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
D38.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 180 through 182. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Neoplasms of unspecified nature or uncertain behavior.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Glomangiopericytoma
- Mass of petrous part of temporal bone
- Neoplasm of cartilage of nose
- Neoplasm of eustachian tube
- Neoplasm of mastoid air cells
- Neoplasm of mastoid antrum
- Neoplasm of middle ear and mastoid
- Neoplasm of nasal vestibule
- Neoplasm of tympanic cavity
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of accessory sinus
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of nose
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ear
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ethmoidal sinus
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of eustachian tube
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of frontal sinus
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of mastoid air cells
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of maxillary sinus
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nasal cavity
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nasal concha
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nose
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of septum of nose
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of sphenoidal sinus
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of temporal bone
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of tympanic antrum
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of tympanic cavity
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of upper respiratory tract
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of vestibule of nose
- Sinonasal glomangiopericytoma
Instructional NotesGuidance
Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to D38.5: its own notes plus those printed at D38, block D37-D48, and Chapter 2. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.
Applicable To
Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of accessory sinuses
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of nose
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear
- Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nasal cavities
Excludes1
Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
- neoplasm of uncertain behavior of heart (D48.7)
- neoplasms of unspecified behavior (D49.-)
Notes
General instructions on how these codes are used.
- 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 D38.5, its category, or a range that includes it.
Excludes1 2
These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming D38.5: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.
Excludes2 1
These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming D38.5: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.
- D49 Neoplasms of unspecified behavior
Notes 1
These notes mention D38.5.
- Block D37-D48 Neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Table of NeoplasmsClinical
Anatomical sites in the Table of Neoplasms that reference this code family.
| Site | Malig. Primary | Malig. Secondary | Ca in situ | Benign | Uncertain | Unspec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| antrum (Highmore) (maxillary) | C31.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| antrum (Highmore) (maxillary) › tympanicum | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| auditory › canal (external) (skin) › internal | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| auditory › tube | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| auricular canal (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] › internal | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.2 |
| cartilage (articular) (joint) NEC [See Also: Neoplasm, bone] › nose, nasal | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| cavity › nasal | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| cavity › tympanic | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| concha [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] › nose | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] › inner | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| ear (external) [See Also: Neoplasm, skin, ear] › middle | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| ethmoid (sinus) | C31.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| eustachian tube | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| frontal › sinus | C31.2 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| mastoid (air cells) (antrum) (cavity) | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| maxilla, maxillary (superior) › antrum | C31.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| maxilla, maxillary (superior) › sinus | C31.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| mucosa › nasal | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nares, naris (anterior) (posterior) | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › cartilage | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › cavity | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › fossa | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › internal | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › mucosa | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › septum | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › turbinate (mucosa) | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nose, nasal › vestibule | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| nostril | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| respiratory › tract NEC | C39.9 | C78.30 | D02.4 | D14.4 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| respiratory › tract NEC › upper | C39.0 | C78.30 | D02.4 | D14.4 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| septum › nasal | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sinus (accessory) | C31.9 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sinus (accessory) › ethmoidal | C31.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sinus (accessory) › frontal | C31.2 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sinus (accessory) › maxillary | C31.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sinus (accessory) › nasal, paranasal NEC | C31.9 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sinus (accessory) › sphenoid | C31.3 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sphenoid | C31.3 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| sphenoid › sinus | C31.3 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| turbinate (bone) › nasal | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| tympanic cavity | C30.1 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
| vestibule › nose | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | D38.5 | D49.1 |
Patient EducationClinical
Lung Diseases
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Convert D38.5 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About D38.5Overview
What is the ICD-10 code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs?
The ICD-10-CM code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs is D38.5 (sometimes written as D385). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Is D38.5 a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
What MS-DRG does D38.5 group to?
When neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 181, 180, 182, with relative weights from 0.7436 to 1.7800 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
Can D38.5 be reported with D48.5?
Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on D38.5 lists "neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ear (external) (skin) (D48.5)". 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).
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of D38.5?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs converts to ICD-9-CM 235.9 (unc behav neo resp NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
