2025 ICD-10-CM code C34.90
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Neoplasms - Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of bronchus or lung 2 Neoplasms (C00-D49) Feed
Malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of unspecified bronchus or lung. Lung cancer NOS.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a confirmed malignant neoplasm in the bronchus or lung, impacting the patient's respiratory function and overall health. The diagnosis must be supported by appropriate clinical findings, imaging studies, and histopathological confirmation.
A patient with this condition may experience a recurrent cough (which may be dry or produce blood), wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, weakness, weight loss, and recurring infections like bronchitis or pneumonia. Diagnosis is based on medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and tests like blood work, sputum analysis, lung function tests, and biopsy. Imaging studies like X-rays, CT scans, MRI, bronchoscopy, mediastinoscopy, thoracoscopy, and PET scans are also used.
In simple words: Lung cancer involving an unknown part of the bronchus or lung. The doctor hasn't specified whether the cancer is in the right or left lung, or which specific part of the airways is affected. This is a type of lung cancer that's often seen in smokers, people exposed to certain pollutants, or those with a family history of the disease.
Malignant neoplasms of an unspecified part of the bronchus or lung occur due to abnormal growth of bronchial mucosa or lung cells that can spread to nearby tissues, blood vessels, or lymphatic vessels.Lung cancers are the most common cancers in the United States and are commonly found in chronic smokers, those exposed to air pollutants and certain chemicals in the workplace, or those with a genetic predisposition. The provider does not specify which part of the bronchus or lung nor which side (right or left) is involved.
Example 1: A 65-year-old patient with a long history of smoking presents with a persistent cough and unexplained weight loss.Imaging reveals a mass in the lung, but the precise location within the bronchus or lung is not yet determined. C34.90 is used until further diagnostic information is available., A 50-year-old patient with no significant smoking history experiences recurring pneumonia. A chest X-ray reveals a suspicious shadow.Biopsy confirms malignancy, but the specific site within the bronchus or lung is unclear initially. C34.90 is used., During a routine physical, a 70-year-old patient's chest X-ray shows an abnormality.Further investigation suggests a malignant process, but without specifying the exact part of the bronchus or lung affected. C34.90 is used as a placeholder until a more definitive diagnosis can be established through additional tests.
Documentation should include the patient's symptoms, physical exam findings, imaging results (chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, PET scan), biopsy results, and other relevant diagnostic tests. Medical history, including smoking history and exposure to environmental toxins, should also be documented.
** Excludes1: Kaposi's sarcoma of lung (C46.5-) and malignant carcinoid tumor of the bronchus and lung (C7A.090).This code should be updated to a more specific code (e.g., C34.11, C34.32) once the location of the malignancy is confirmed.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Pulmonary Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Oncology, Radiology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Physician's Office