2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z85.21

Personal history of malignant neoplasm of larynx

ICD-10-CM Code:
Z85.21
ICD-10 Code for:
Personal history of malignant neoplasm of larynx
Is Billable?
Yes - 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)

Z85.21 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of personal history of malignant neoplasm of larynx. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The code is exempt from present on admission (POA) reporting for inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals.

This code describes a circumstance which influences the patient's health status but not a current illness or injury. The code is unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • History of malignant neoplasm of ear, nose AND/OR throat
  • History of malignant neoplasm of larynx
  • History of malignant neoplasm of neck
  • History of malignant neoplasm of neck
  • History of primary malignant neoplasm of larynx

Clinical Classification

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
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.
  • Conditions classifiable to C32

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Code Edits

The Medicare Code Editor (MCE) detects and reports errors in the coding of claims data. The following ICD-10-CM Code Edits are applicable to this code:

  • Unacceptable principal diagnosis - There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)

Z85.21 is exempt from POA reporting - The Present on Admission (POA) indicator is used for diagnosis codes included in claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. POA indicators must be reported to CMS on each claim to facilitate the grouping of diagnoses codes into the proper Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). CMS publishes a listing of specific diagnosis codes that are exempt from the POA reporting requirement. Review other POA exempt codes here.

CMS POA Indicator Options and Definitions

POA IndicatorReason for CodeCMS will pay the CC/MCC DRG?
YDiagnosis was present at time of inpatient admission.YES
NDiagnosis was not present at time of inpatient admission.NO
UDocumentation insufficient to determine if the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.NO
WClinically undetermined - unable to clinically determine whether the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.YES
1Unreported/Not used - Exempt from POA reporting. NO

Convert Z85.21 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: V10.21 - Hx-laryngeal malignancy

Patient Education


Head and Neck Cancer

What is head and neck cancer?

Head and neck cancer is the name for cancers that develop in the mouth, nose and sinuses, salivary glands, and throat and voice box (larynx). Most head and neck cancers are squamous cell cancers. They begin in the moist tissues that line the head and neck. The cancer cells may spread into deeper tissue as the cancer grows.

There are other cancers that develop in the head and neck, such as brain cancer, eye cancer, and esophageal cancer. But they are usually not considered to be head and neck cancers, because those types of cancer and their treatments are different.

Who is more likely to develop head and neck cancer?

Anyone can get head and neck cancer, but you are more likely to develop it if you:

  • Use tobacco or drink lots of alcohol. Your risk of developing head and neck cancer is even higher if you do both.
  • Are male.
  • Are over age 50.
  • Have a history of head or neck cancer.
  • Have HPV (for cancers in the tonsils and base of the tongue).
  • Are exposed to wood dusts or certain other toxic substances at work (for upper throat, nose, and sinus cancers).
  • Have had radiation exposure to the head and neck (for salivary gland cancer).
  • Have Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (for upper throat and salivary gland cancers).
  • Are Asian (for upper throat cancer).

What are the symptoms of head and neck cancer?

The symptoms of head and neck cancer may include:

  • A lump in the neck
  • A sore in the mouth or the throat that does not heal and may be painful
  • A sore throat that does not go away
  • Trouble swallowing
  • A change or hoarseness in the voice

Other possible symptoms can depend on the specific type of head and neck cancer.

How is head and neck cancer diagnosed?

Which exams and tests used to diagnose head and neck cancer can depend on the specific type of cancer. Possible exams and tests may include:

  • A physical exam of the area that might have cancer.
  • Blood and/or urine tests.
  • An endoscopy.
  • A biopsy or other procedure to collect cells from the area that might have cancer. The cells are viewed under a microscope to find out if they are abnormal.
  • Imaging tests.

What are the treatments for head and neck cancer?

The treatment for head and neck cancer will depend on the specific type of cancer, the stage (how advanced the cancer is), your overall health, and other factors. The treatment options might include:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Targeted therapy, which uses drugs or other substances that mainly attack specific cancer cells and cause less harm to normal cells

In some cases, you may need a combination of treatments. Sometimes surgery can affect how well you can chew, swallow, or talk. Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, dietary counseling, and speech therapy, may help.

Can head and neck cancer be prevented?

There are steps you can take to help prevent head and neck cancer:

  • Not smoking
  • Limiting alcohol use or not drinking at all
  • Getting regular dental exams
  • Talking to your provider about HPV vaccination

NIH: National Cancer Institute


[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.