2026 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 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 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
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- 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
Type 1 Excludes
- neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ear external skin D48.5
- neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nose NOS D48.7
- neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin of nose D48.5
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Eustachian Tube
a narrow passageway that connects the upper part of the throat to the tympanic cavity.
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 | C30.0 | C78.39 | D02.3 | D14.0 | 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
When you breathe, your lungs take in oxygen from the air and deliver it to the bloodstream. The cells in your body need oxygen to work and grow. During a normal day, you breathe nearly 25,000 times. People with lung disease have difficulty breathing. Millions of people in the U.S. have lung disease.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert D38.5 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About D38.5Overview
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, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
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 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 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.
Footnotes
[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.
