C38.4 Malignant neoplasm of pleura

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Acts as a Complication or Comorbidity (CC) as a secondary diagnosis.

Applies from C38 Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum and pleura

Excludes1 (never code together)

• mesothelioma (C45.-)

Risk adjustment (HCC)

• CMS-HCC V28: HCC 20 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
• CMS-HCC V22: HCC 9 — Lung and Other Severe Cancers
• RxHCC V08: HCC 20 — Lung, Kidney, and Other Cancers; Secondary Cancer of Lymph Nodes and Other Sites
• ESRD V24: HCC 9

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 180-182 in MDC 04.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 163.9 Malignant neoplasm of pleura, unspecified (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to C38.4

Back-references to C38.4

• Type 1 Excludes: C45.0 Mesothelioma of pleura ("other malignant neoplasm of pleura (C38.4)")

Nearby codes

• C38 Malignant neoplasm of heart, mediastinum and pleura
• C38.0 Malignant neoplasm of heart
• C38.1 Malignant neoplasm of anterior mediastinum
• C38.2 Malignant neoplasm of posterior mediastinum
• C38.3 Malignant neoplasm of mediastinum, part unspecified
• C38.4 Malignant neoplasm of pleura (this code)
• C38.8 Malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of heart, mediastinum and pleura