2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J38.3

Other diseases of vocal cords

ICD-10-CM Code:
J38.3
ICD-10 Code for:
Other diseases of vocal cords
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the respiratory system
    (J00–J99)
    • Other diseases of upper respiratory tract
      (J30-J39)
      • Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified
        (J38)

J38.3 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of other diseases of vocal cords. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Approximate Synonyms

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

  • Abductor spastic dysphonia
  • Abscess of larynx
  • Abscess of vocal cords
  • Adductor spastic dysphonia
  • Adductor spastic dysphonia of conversion reaction
  • Adductor spastic dysphonia of dystonia
  • Adductor spastic dysphonia of musculoskeletal tension reaction
  • Adductor spastic dysphonia of organic voice tremor
  • Atrophy of vocal cord
  • Atrophy of vocal cord
  • Bleeding from larynx
  • Bleeding from larynx
  • Bleeding from larynx
  • Bowing of vocal cord
  • Bowing of vocal cord on phonation
  • Cellulitis of larynx
  • Cellulitis of neck
  • Cellulitis of vocal cords
  • Chorditis
  • Chorditis
  • Conversion dysphonia
  • Cyst of larynx
  • Cyst of larynx
  • Cyst of larynx
  • Disorder of vocal cord
  • Dysphonia of organic tremor
  • Dysplasia of vocal cord
  • Edema of vocal cord
  • Epidermoid cyst of vocal cord
  • Finding of function of vocal cords
  • Finding of function of vocal cords
  • Finding of function of vocal cords
  • Finding of function of vocal cords
  • Flaccid dysphonia
  • Granuloma of vocal cords
  • Hematoma of neck
  • Hyperemia of vocal cord
  • Idiopathic adductor spastic dysphonia
  • Impaired abduction of vocal cord on respiration
  • Impaired adduction of vocal cord on phonation
  • Laryngeal granuloma
  • Lesion of vocal cord
  • Leukoplakia of vocal cords
  • Mass of vocal cord
  • Mixed flaccid-spastic pseudobulbar dysphonia
  • Mucosal bridge of vocal cord
  • Mucous cyst of vocal cord
  • Neurologic adductor spastic dysphonia
  • Paradoxical movement of vocal cord on respiration
  • Position of vocal cord at rest - finding
  • Position of vocal cord at rest - finding
  • Position of vocal cord at rest - finding
  • Position of vocal cords on respiration - finding
  • Position of vocal cords on respiration - finding
  • Postmenopausal atrophy of vocal cord
  • Pseudocystic change of vocal cord
  • Respiratory tract congestion
  • Scarred plaque of vocal fold cover
  • Spastic dysphonia
  • Spastic pseudobulbar dysphonia
  • Submucosal hemorrhage of vocal cord
  • Sulcus vocalis of vocal cord
  • Telangiectasis of vocal fold
  • Thickening of vocal cords
  • Ulcer of larynx
  • Vocal cord abducted at rest
  • Vocal cord adducted at rest
  • Vocal cord cyst
  • Vocal cord does not adduct on coughing
  • Vocal cord does not adduct on phonation
  • Vocal cord hematoma
  • Vocal cord hemorrhage
  • Vocal cord irregular
  • Vocal cord obliterated
  • Vocal cord prolapse
  • Vocal cord strain
  • Vocal cord ulcer
  • Vocal cords erythematous
  • Vocal cords thickened
  • Vocal fold overadduction
  • Vocal fold underadduction

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Laryngeal Granuloma

    an inflammatory lesion of the vocal cords.

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.
  • Abscess of vocal cords
  • Cellulitis of vocal cords
  • Granuloma of vocal cords
  • Leukokeratosis of vocal cords
  • Leukoplakia of vocal cords

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).

Convert J38.3 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 478.5 - Vocal cord disease NEC
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Throat Disorders

Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx. The technical name for your throat is the pharynx.

Throat problems are common. You've probably had a sore throat. The cause is usually a viral infection, but other causes include allergies, infection with strep bacteria or the leaking of stomach acids back up into the esophagus, called GERD.

Other problems that affect the throat include:

  • Tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils
  • Cancer
  • Croup - inflammation, usually in small children, which causes a barking cough
  • Laryngitis - swelling of the voice box, which can cause a hoarse voice or loss of voice

Most throat problems are minor and go away on their own. Treatments, when needed, depend on the problem.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Voice Disorders

Voice is the sound made by air passing from your lungs through your larynx, or voice box. In your larynx are your vocal cords, two bands of muscle that vibrate to make sound. For most of us, our voices play a big part in who we are, what we do, and how we communicate. Like fingerprints, each person's voice is unique.

Many things we do can injure our vocal cords. Talking too much, screaming, constantly clearing your throat, or smoking can make you hoarse. They can also lead to problems such as nodules, polyps, and sores on the vocal cords. Other causes of voice disorders include infections, upward movement of stomach acids into the throat, growths due to a virus, cancer, and diseases that paralyze the vocal cords.

Signs that your voice isn't healthy include:

  • Your voice has become hoarse or raspy
  • You've lost the ability to hit some high notes when singing
  • Your voice suddenly sounds deeper
  • Your throat often feels raw, achy, or strained
  • It's become an effort to talk

Treatment for voice disorders varies depending on the cause. Most voice problems can be successfully treated when diagnosed early.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders


[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.

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.