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  2. ICD-10-CM Codes List
  3. J00–J99
  4. J96-J99
  5. Other respiratory disorders (J98)

Other respiratory disorders (J98)

The ICD-10 code section J98 is used to classify various other respiratory disorders that do not fit into more common respiratory disease categories. This includes a diverse group of conditions affecting the bronchus, lungs, mediastinum, and diaphragm, such as acute bronchospasm, atelectasis, pulmonary collapse, and mediastinitis.

This section covers diseases like acute bronchospasm (also known as paradoxical or allergic bronchospasm) under J98.01, helping medical coders identify sudden narrowing of airways caused by triggers including drugs or allergens. Codes J98.09 and J98.4 capture rare or complex bronchial and lung disorders, ranging from bronchial stenosis to restrictive lung diseases and pulmonary infections. Pulmonary collapse and atelectasis are specified in J98.11 and J98.19, addressing detailed forms of lung collapse and related conditions. Disorders involving the mediastinum such as mediastinitis are classified under J98.51, while diaphragm-related dysfunctions like paralysis or displacement fall under J98.6. The codes facilitate precise documentation for less common respiratory conditions and ambiguous cases, which are sometimes summarized in J98.9 for unspecified respiratory disorders. Understanding this ICD-10 code group assists coders and healthcare providers in accurately coding symptoms and diagnoses that are otherwise challenging to classify.

Instructional Notations

Use Additional Code

The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.

  • code to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke Z77.22
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period P96.81
  • history of tobacco dependence Z87.891
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke Z57.31
  • tobacco dependence F17
  • tobacco use Z72.0

Type 1 Excludes

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.

Type 2 Excludes

A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

Clinical Terms

The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.

Aspergillus

A genus of mitosporic fungi containing about 100 species and eleven different teleomorphs in the family Trichocomaceae.

Bronchomalacia

A congenital or acquired condition of underdeveloped or degeneration of CARTILAGE in the BRONCHI. This results in a floppy bronchial wall making patency difficult to maintain. It is characterized by wheezing and difficult breathing.

Hemosiderosis

Conditions in which there is a generalized increase in the iron stores of body tissues, particularly of liver and the MONONUCLEAR PHAGOCYTE SYSTEM, without demonstrable tissue damage. The name refers to the presence of stainable iron in the tissue in the form of hemosiderin.

Hemosiderosis, Pulmonary

Iron deposition within the lung. Primary pulmonary hemosiderosis is characterized by HEMOPTYSIS; IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA, and diffuse pulmonary hemorrhage as seen as transient pulmonary infiltrates on RADIOGRAPHY. Even though large amounts of iron are laid down in the lung, with normal or increased total body iron, anemia occurs because of inability of the erythron to use iron sequestered in pulmonary MACROPHAGES.

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Lung infections with the invasive forms of ASPERGILLUS, usually after surgery, transplantation, prolonged NEUTROPENIA or treatment with high-doses of CORTICOSTEROIDS. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis can progress to CHRONIC NECROTIZING PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS or hematogenous spread to other organs.

Mediastinal Emphysema

Presence of air in the mediastinal tissues due to leakage of air from the tracheobronchial tree, usually as a result of trauma.

Mediastinitis

Inflammation of the mediastinum, the area between the pleural sacs.

Middle Lobe Syndrome

Atelectasis of the right middle pulmonary lobe, with chronic pneumonitis. (Dorland, 27th ed)

Mononuclear Phagocyte System

Mononuclear cells with pronounced phagocytic ability that are distributed extensively in lymphoid and other organs. It includes MACROPHAGES and their precursors; PHAGOCYTES; KUPFFER CELLS; HISTIOCYTES; DENDRITIC CELLS; LANGERHANS CELLS; and MICROGLIA. The term mononuclear phagocyte system has replaced the former reticuloendothelial system, which also included less active phagocytic cells such as fibroblasts and endothelial cells. (From Illustrated Dictionary of Immunology, 2d ed.)

Pulmonary Aspergillosis

Infections of the respiratory tract with fungi of the genus ASPERGILLUS.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

Presence of air or gas in the subcutaneous tissues of the body.