2025 ICD-10-CM code C34
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Neoplasms - Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung 2: Neoplasms Feed
Malignant neoplasm of the bronchus and lung. This is the most common type of lung cancer.
Medical necessity for diagnostic testing and treatment is established by the presence of signs, symptoms, or imaging findings suspicious for lung cancer. Further tests like biopsies are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment decisions. Treatment of lung cancer is medically necessary to prevent disease progression and improve survival and quality of life.
Physicians diagnose lung cancer based on patient history, symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc.), physical exam, laboratory tests (blood tests, sputum analysis), and imaging studies (X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET scans, bronchoscopy). Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.
In simple words: Lung cancer is a malignant growth that starts in the airways or lungs. It's often linked to smoking and exposure to certain pollutants.
Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung.Use additional 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). Excludes1: Kaposi's sarcoma of lung (C46.5-), malignant carcinoid tumor of the bronchus and lung (C7A.090)
Example 1: A 65-year-old patient with a history of smoking presents with a persistent cough and weight loss. Imaging reveals a mass in the right lung, confirmed as a malignant neoplasm via biopsy. This is coded as C34., A 40-year-old, non-smoking patient experiences recurring pneumonia.A CT scan reveals a peripheral lung mass. Biopsy confirms adenocarcinoma of the lung. C34 is used, despite the atypical presentation for lung cancer., A 9/11 first responder develops a persistent cough and shortness of breath years after the event. A diagnosis of lung cancer is made following extensive testing. C34 is used along with Z57.31 to indicate occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke as a contributing factor.
Documentation should include details of the patient's symptoms, imaging findings, biopsy results confirming malignancy, and the location of the neoplasm within the bronchus or lung. If known, the histological type should be documented.
** For cases where the neoplasm overlaps contiguous sites, use subcategory .8 ('overlapping lesion').
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Pulmonology, Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Radiology, Pathology
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, On Campus-Outpatient Hospital, Physician's Office, Independent Clinic, Outpatient Hospital