Skip to content

D38.5 ICD-10-CM Code: Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs

ICD-10-CM Code View

HCC Buddy Code Card

Digital ICD-10 code-book layout with official code detail, always-visible risk models, Code Trumping, and Buddy coding guidance.

FY 2026 Apr update / Neoplasms (C00-D49) / Neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes (D37-D48)

D38.5

Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidance

Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs

A growth in other parts of the respiratory system (not larynx, trachea, bronchus, lung, pleura, mediastinum, or thymus) that cannot yet be determined to be cancer or benign.

CMS-HCC V28

0

0

RAF 0

CMS-HCC V24

0

0

RAF 0

ACA/HHS

0

0

RAF 0

ESRD/PACE

0

0

RAF 0

RXHCC

0

0

RAF 0

Code Trumping

Basket needed

Code Book Path

Official
D38Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organs
D38.5Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs

Inclusion Terms

Official
  • Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of accessory sinuses
  • Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of nose
  • Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear
  • Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nasal cavities

Excludes 2

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for D38.5 in this effective period.

Related Child Codes

Official
D38.0Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of larynx
D38.1Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of trachea, bronchus and lung
D38.2Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of pleura
D38.3Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of mediastinum
D38.4Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of thymus

Includes

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for D38.5 in this effective period.

Excludes 1

Official
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ear (external) (skin) (D48.5)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nose NOS (D48.7)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin of nose (D48.5)

Code First

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for D38.5 in this effective period.

Use Additional

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for D38.5 in this effective period.

Code Also

Official

ICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for D38.5 in this effective period.

Buddy Documentation Tip

HCC Buddy guidance
This code covers less common respiratory sites such as the diaphragm or other thoracic structures
Always document the specific respiratory organ involved to support accurate coding

Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.

Is D38.5 an HCC code?

No. D38.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to any HCC category in V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC.

Coder workflow notes

Get the V28 RAF + MEAT cheat sheet

One printable page: confirm a code's V28 HCC status, its RAF weight, and the MEAT your note needs to make it stick. Free, no card.

Free PDF. No card. Unsubscribe anytime.

This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).

What This Code Means

D38.5 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs. A growth in other parts of the respiratory system (not larynx, trachea, bronchus, lung, pleura, mediastinum, or thymus) that cannot yet be determined to be cancer or benign. D38.5 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for neoplasms (c00-d49), within the section covering neoplasms of uncertain behavior, polycythemia vera and myelodysplastic syndromes (d37-d48).

D38.5 is a billable ICD-10-CM code but does not map to a payment HCC under the CMS-HCC V28, V24, ESRD, or RxHCC risk adjustment models. It can be reported on Medicare Advantage encounter data submissions but it does not contribute to a beneficiary's RAF score and therefore does not affect risk-adjusted payments to the plan.

This code covers less common respiratory sites such as the diaphragm or other thoracic structures.

HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for D38.5 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.

Coding Tips

  • This code covers less common respiratory sites such as the diaphragm or other thoracic structures
  • Always document the specific respiratory organ involved to support accurate coding

Excludes 1, Do NOT code together

  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of ear (external) (skin) (D48.5)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of nose NOS (D48.7)
  • neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin of nose (D48.5)

Child Codes

Code Hierarchy

Work D38.5 in HCC Buddy

Open D38.5 in the Code Book for the full Index-to-Tabular path, MEAT checklist, and V28 HCC mapping, or in the Encoder to code from a keyword search. Pro includes 14 days to try everything.