2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J90Pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified
ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J90-J94›J90
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
J90 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 186 through 188. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Pleurisy, pleural effusion and pulmonary collapse.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Bacterial pleurisy
- Bilateral pleural effusion
- Encysted pleurisy
- Exudative pleural effusion
- Exudative pleurisy
- Fibrinous pleurisy
- Hemorrhagic pleural effusion
- Hemothorax
- Hydrothorax
- Left pleural effusion
- Loculated pleural effusion
- Pleural effusion
- Pleural fluid = exudate
- Pleural fluid type determination
- Pleurisy with effusion
- Pneumococcal pleurisy
- Right pleural effusion
- Serofibrinous pleurisy
- Serous pleurisy
- Streptococcal pleurisy
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Encysted pleurisy
- Pleural effusion NOS
- Pleurisy with effusion (exudative) (serous)
Type 1 Excludes
- chylous pleural effusion J94.0
- malignant pleural effusion J91.0
- pleurisy NOS R09.1
- tuberculous pleural effusion A15.6
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.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Effusion
- pleura, pleurisy, pleuritic, pleuropericardial
- Pleurisy(acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
- with
- effusion
- Pleurisy(acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
- pneumococcal
- Pleurisy(acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
- streptococcal
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Hemothorax
hemorrhage within the pleural cavity.Pleural Effusion
presence of fluid in the pleural cavity resulting from excessive transudation or exudation from the pleural surfaces. it is a sign of disease and not a diagnosis in itself.Pleural Effusion, Malignant
presence of fluid in the pleural cavity as a complication of malignant disease. malignant pleural effusions often contain actual malignant cells.Hydrothorax
a collection of watery fluid in the pleural cavity. (dorland, 27th ed)Pleural Cavity
paired but separate cavity within the thoracic cavity. it consists of the space between the parietal and visceral pleura and normally contains a capillary layer of serous fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces.Hydrothorax
the accumulation of serous fluid within the pleural cavity.
Patient EducationClinical
Pleural Disorders
Your pleura is a large, thin sheet of tissue that wraps around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity. Between the layers of the pleura is a very thin space. Normally it's filled with a small amount of fluid.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert J90 to ICD-9-CMHistory
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About J90Overview
Is J90 (Pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does J90 group to?
When pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 186, 187, 188, with relative weights from 0.7172 to 1.5585 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J90?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified converts to ICD-9-CM 511.1 (bact pleur/effus not TB) and 511.89 (effusion NEC exc tb). 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.
