Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z85.03

Personal history of malignant neoplasm of large intestine

ICD-10-CM Code:
Z85.03
ICD-10 Code for:
Personal history of malignant neoplasm of large intestine
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
    (Z00–Z99)
    • Persons with potential health hazards related to family and personal history and certain conditions influencing health status
      (Z77-Z99)
      • Personal history of malignant neoplasm
        (Z85)

Z85.03 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of personal history of malignant neoplasm of large intestine. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Personal history of malignant neoplasm of large intestine

Non-specific codes like Z85.03 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for personal history of malignant neoplasm of large intestine:

  • Use Z85.030 for Personal history of malignant carcinoid tumor of large intestine - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use Z85.038 for Personal history of other malignant neoplasm of large intestine - BILLABLE CODE

Patient Education


Colorectal Cancer

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is cancer that develops in the tissues of the colon or rectum. Your colon and rectum are part of your digestive system:

  • Your colon is the first and longest part of your large intestine. It absorbs water and some nutrients from foods. It also changes the leftover waste products into stool (poop).
  • Your rectum is the lower part of your large intestine. It's where your body stores stool.

Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer, and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancer that affects either of these parts may also be called colorectal cancer.

What causes colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer happens when there are changes in your genetic material (DNA). These changes are also called mutations or variants. Often, the genetic changes that lead to colorectal cancer happen during your lifetime and the exact cause is unknown. But certain genetic changes that raise your risk for colorectal cancer are inherited, meaning that you are born with them.

Besides genetics, other factors, including your lifestyle and the environment, can affect your risk of colorectal cancer.

Who is more likely to develop colorectal cancer?

Anyone can get colorectal cancer, but certain factors make you more likely to develop it:

  • Being older; your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you age.
  • Having a personal or family history of colorectal cancer.
  • Having a history of adenomas. Adenomas are colorectal polyps (growths) that look abnormal under a microscope or are 1 centimeter or larger. Adenomas are not cancer, but they can sometimes turn into cancer over time.
  • Having a genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer).
  • Having chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease for 8 years or more.
  • Having three or more alcoholic drinks per day.
  • Smoking cigarettes.
  • Being Black; Black people have an increased risk of colorectal cancer and death from colorectal cancer compared to other races.
  • Having obesity.

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer may not always cause symptoms, especially at first. If you do have symptoms, they could include:

  • A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days, such as:
    • Diarrhea
    • Constipation
    • Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
    • Your stool is narrower or has a different shape than usual
  • Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
  • Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
  • Weight loss for no known reason
  • Fatigue

What is screening for colorectal cancer and who needs it?

Because colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms at first, it's important to have screening tests for colorectal cancer. Screening tests look for signs of a disease before you have any symptoms. They can help find cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.

Most experts recommend that start screenings at 45 and continue until at least age 75. People over 75 and those who are at high risk should talk to their providers about how often you need screening and what type of test they should get.

The types of tests include different stool tests and procedures such as colonoscopies and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Talk with your provider about how often you need screening and what type of test you should get.

How is colorectal cancer diagnosed?

If you have symptoms that could be caused by colorectal cancer or if your screening test results are abnormal, you may need to have more tests to find out if you have cancer. Possible tests include:

  • A physical exam.
  • A digital rectal exam. For this exam, your provider inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to feel for lumps or anything unusual.
  • The tests that are also used for screening (colonoscopy, stool tests, etc.) and biopsy, if you have not already had them.
  • Other blood and tissue tests.

What are the treatments for colorectal cancer?

Your treatment options usually depend on your age, your general health, how serious the cancer is, and which type of cancer you have.

For colon cancer, your treatment may include one or more of these options:

  • Surgery.
  • Radiofrequency ablation, a procedure that uses radio waves to heat and destroy abnormal cells. The radio waves travel through electrodes (small devices that carry electricity).
  • Cryosurgery, a procedure in which an extremely cold liquid or an instrument called a cryoprobe is used to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells.
  • Immunotherapy.

For rectal cancer, your treatment may include one or more of these options:

  • Surgery.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • Active surveillance, which means having regular tests to see if your rectal cancer has changed. If the tests show the cancer is starting to grow, then you will have treatment to try to cure the cancer.
  • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells.
  • Immunotherapy.

Can colorectal cancer be prevented?

Avoiding the risk factors that you have control over may help prevent some cancers. That includes:

  • Not smoking
  • Limiting alcohol to under three drinks per day
  • Managing your weight

There are also other steps you can take to try to prevent colorectal cancer. They include:

  • Getting regular colorectal cancer screenings
  • Having polyps removed before they can become cancerous
  • Getting regular exercise

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Colon Cancer Summary

Learn about colon cancer risk factors, symptoms, tests to diagnose, factors affecting prognosis, staging, and treatment.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.