ICD-9 Code 478.5

Other diseases of vocal cords

Not Valid for Submission

478.5 is a legacy non-billable code used to specify a medical diagnosis of other diseases of vocal cords. This code was replaced on September 30, 2015 by its ICD-10 equivalent.

ICD-9: 478.5
Short Description:Vocal cord disease NEC
Long Description:Other diseases of vocal cords

Convert 478.5 to ICD-10

The following crosswalk between ICD-9 to ICD-10 is based based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMS) information:

  • J38.3 - Other diseases of vocal cords

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the respiratory system (460–519)
    • Other diseases of upper respiratory tract (470-478)
      • 478 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract

Information for Medical Professionals

Synonyms

  • Abscess of vocal cords
  • Atrophy of vocal cord
  • Bowing of vocal cord
  • Bowing of vocal cord on phonation
  • Cellulitis of vocal cords
  • Chorditis
  • Chorditis vocalis inferior
  • Contact ulcer of vocal folds
  • Disorder of vocal cord
  • Dysplasia of vocal cord
  • Epidermoid cyst of vocal cord
  • Fibrinous chorditis
  • Granuloma of vocal cords
  • Human papilloma virus infection of vocal cord
  • Hyperemia of vocal cord
  • Impaired abduction of vocal cord on respiration
  • Impaired adduction of vocal cord on phonation
  • Interarytenoid leukoplakia
  • Lesion of vocal cord
  • Leukoplakia of vocal cords
  • Mucosal bridge of vocal cord
  • Mucous cyst of vocal cord
  • No view of vocal cords
  • On examination - laryngoscopy=singers nodes
  • On examination - vocal cord nodule
  • On examination - vocal cords pink +edema
  • On examination - vocal cords thickened
  • Paradoxical movement of vocal cord on respiration
  • Polypoid degeneration of vocal cord
  • Postmenopausal atrophy of vocal cord
  • Post-radiotherapy telangiectasis of vocal cord
  • Pseudocystic change of vocal cord
  • Scarred plaque of vocal fold cover
  • Singers' chorditis
  • Singers' nodes
  • Sulcus vocalis of vocal cord
  • Telangiectasis of vocal cord
  • 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 dysfunction
  • Vocal cord hematoma
  • Vocal cord irregular
  • Vocal cord obliterated
  • Vocal cord palsy
  • Vocal cord prolapse
  • Vocal cord strain
  • Vocal cord ulcer
  • Vocal cords erythematous
  • Vocal cords swelling
  • Vocal cords thickened
  • Vocal fold underadduction
  • Vocal fremitus decreased
  • Vocal fremitus increased
  • Vocal nodules in adults
  • Vocal nodules in children

Index to Diseases and Injuries

References found for the code 478.5 in the Index of Diseases and Injuries:


Information for Patients


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


[Read More]

ICD-9 Footnotes

General Equivalence Map Definitions
The ICD-9 and ICD-10 GEMs are used to facilitate linking between the diagnosis codes in ICD-9-CM and the new ICD-10-CM code set. The GEMs are the raw material from which providers, health information vendors and payers can derive specific applied mappings to meet their needs.

  • Approximate Flag - The approximate flag is on, indicating that the relationship between the code in the source system and the code in the target system is an approximate equivalent.
  • No Map Flag - The no map flag indicates that a code in the source system is not linked to any code in the target system.
  • Combination Flag - The combination flag indicates that more than one code in the target system is required to satisfy the full equivalent meaning of a code in the source system.

Index of Diseases and Injuries Definitions

  • And - The word "and" should be interpreted to mean either "and" or "or" when it appears in a title.
  • Code also note - A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
  • Code first - Certain conditions have both an underlying etiology and multiple body system manifestations due to the underlying etiology. For such conditions, the ICD-10-CM has a coding convention that requires the underlying condition be sequenced first followed by the manifestation. Wherever such a combination exists, there is a "use additional code" note at the etiology code, and a "code first" note at the manifestation code. These instructional notes indicate the proper sequencing order of the codes, etiology followed by manifestation.
  • Type 1 Excludes Notes - 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 Notes - 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.
  • Includes Notes - This note appears immediately under a three character code title to further define, or give examples of, the content of the category.
  • Inclusion terms - List of terms is included under some codes. 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.
  • NEC "Not elsewhere classifiable" - This abbreviation in the Alphabetic Index represents "other specified". When a specific code is not available for a condition, the Alphabetic Index directs the coder to the "other specified” code in the Tabular List.
  • NOS "Not otherwise specified" - This abbreviation is the equivalent of unspecified.
  • See - The "see" instruction following a main term in the Alphabetic Index indicates that another term should be referenced. It is necessary to go to the main term referenced with the "see" note to locate the correct code.
  • See Also - A "see also" instruction following a main term in the Alphabetic Index instructs that there is another main term that may also be referenced that may provide additional Alphabetic Index entries that may be useful. It is not necessary to follow the "see also" note when the original main term provides the necessary code.
  • 7th Characters - Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
  • With - The word "with" should be interpreted to mean "associated with" or "due to" when it appears in a code title, the Alphabetic Index, or an instructional note in the Tabular List. The word "with" in the Alphabetic Index is sequenced immediately following the main term, not in alphabetical order.