C34.01
BillableMalignant neoplasm of right main bronchus
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000V24HCC 9 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.973ESRDHCC 9 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
0.000RxHCCHCC 20 — Cancer, Liver and Intrahepatic Bile Duct
0.000What This Code Means
This code describes cancer that starts in the main airway (bronchus) on the right side of the lungs. It is a malignant tumor that originates in this specific location rather than spreading from elsewhere.
Coding Tips
- •Verify laterality is documented as right-sided in the medical record before assigning this code; do not assume based on imaging alone
- •This is a more specific code than C34.9 (unspecified lung cancer), so use it when the main bronchus location is clearly documented by the provider
Clinical Significance
Right main bronchus cancer specifies laterality for central lung malignancy, which is important for surgical planning and radiation targeting. The right main bronchus is shorter and wider than the left, making it more susceptible to foreign body aspiration and potentially earlier symptom presentation. Right-sided tumors may involve the right upper lobe takeoff.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Pathology with histological type and molecular markers (EGFR, ALK, PD-L1 for non-small cell)
- ✓Bronchoscopy or CT confirming right main bronchus as the tumor site
- ✓Documentation of laterality explicitly stated as right-sided
- ✓TNM staging with assessment of mediastinal node involvement
- ✓Surgical candidacy assessment including pulmonary function
Commonly Confused Codes
C34.02 — Left main bronchus: Ensure laterality matches documentationC34.11 — Right upper lobe: Main bronchus is proximal to lobar bronchi; distinguish the exact locationC34.00 — Unspecified main bronchus: Use C34.01 when right side is documentedC34.91 — Right lung, unspecified part: C34.01 is more specific when main bronchus origin is confirmed
Code Hierarchy
└C34Malignant neoplasm of bronchus and lung└C34.0Malignant neoplasm of main bronchus└C34.01Malignant neoplasm of right main bronchus
└C34.01Malignant neoplasm of right main bronchus