Non Small Cell Lung Cancer ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 Codes?

The International Classification of Diseases was developed in the 1850s. It was used as a system to standardize medical records and data using a single coding system. The ICD-10 (10th edition) came into use in 1983 with the World Health Organization managing the official list of ICD-10 codes. Countries that have adopted the ICD-10 codes have modified them based on their specific healthcare system requirements.

The US version of the ICD-10 was constructed in collaboration with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The code consists of two sets of medical codes the ICD-10-PCS and the ICD-10-CM. The former is mainly used for coding procedures used in inpatient settings while the latter is used for disease diagnosis.

ICD-10 stands for the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. It is a coding system used in healthcare to systematically classify diagnoses, procedures, and symptoms. CM indicates “Clinical Modification,” and is used in the U.S. for disease diagnoses (ICD-10-CM). ICD-10-PCS codes are used for coding procedures in inpatient settings. Both of these coding systems are used for medical claims and statistics purposes.

In general, ICD-10 codes are different for primary tumors (“malignant neoplasms”) and secondary or metastasized tumors (“secondary malignant neoplasms”).

What is the ICD 10 Code for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer?

C34.90 [¹] is a specific ICD-10 code that is used to define non-small cell lung cancer for reimbursement. It should be noted that it is the US version of the ICD-10 coding, which may differ from the ICD-10 codes that are used internationally.

Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ICD 10 Code: C34.90

Lung carcinomas originate in the lung, specifically from within the epithelium of the lungs, which is the lining of the bronchial tree or bronchogenic carcinomas. These are usually classified as either non-small cell or small cell carcinomas. The former is usually either large cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, or adenocarcinomas, while metastatic carcinomas of the lung have also been identified, but are difficult to distinguish when compared to primary tumors in the lungs. This type of cancer usually develops within the lining of the lungs and the air passages. The type of cancer is diagnosed mainly by studying the shape and structure of the cells under a microscope.

Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ICD code C34.90 Lookup

Below is a table of the ICD 10 non-small cell lung cancer codes for primary lung cancers, which are classified under C34.90, “malignant neoplasm of the lungs." [²]

C34.90: Malignant neoplasm of non-small cell lung cancer

Types of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Coded under C34.90

A C34 code can be used for primary non-small cell lung cancers of various cell types. The following are some of the main subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer that are recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers Excluded from ICD-10 C34.90

Squamous Cell Carcinomas - Instances of squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs are mostly centrally located within the largest bronchi in the lungs.[³] This particular type of lung cancer is mostly linked to cigarette smoking as compared to non-small cell lung cancer. However, the instances of squamous cell carcinoma have been steadily declining over the past decades.

Large Cell Carcinomas - Large cell carcinomas may also be sub-divided into various variants as recognized by the World Health Organization, such as; large cell carcinoma with rhabdoid phenotype, clear cell carcinoma, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinomas, basaloid carcinomas, and large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. It is important to note that basaloid carcinoma is also considered to be a variant of squamous cell carcinoma as well, and in certain instances, adenocarcinomas could follow a basaloid pattern. In either of these instances, the cancer is called a variant of large-cell carcinoma.

Adenocarcinomas - In many countries around the world, adenocarcinomas are now the most commonly diagnosed histological subtype. One of the major challenges when diagnosing adenocarcinomas is the histological heterogeneity, mainly since mixtures of adenocarcinoma histological subtypes are considered to be more common as compared to tumors that consist of an acinar, bronchioloalveolar, solid, or papillary adenocarcinoma along with a mucin formation.

Secondary and Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ICD 10 code: C34.90

Secondary lung cancer is cancer that originates elsewhere in the body and has spread to the lungs. The area from where the cancer spreads is known as the primary cancer. In the body, cancer spreads when a cancerous cell breaks away from the primary cancerous tumor and moves through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other areas of the body, forming new tumors. The second location of the cancer is known as secondary cancer, which is also known as metastases.

Once the cancer has spread out from its original site it is known as a metastasized cancer. In the body, cancer spreads through the process of metastasis. If the cancer cells break away from the original site it can spread cancer to other parts of the body via the bloodstream and the lymph system. Once the cancer has metastasized, the new tumors that are formed will be the same kind of cancer as the original cancer. For instance, if lung cancer cells spread to the brain and develop a tumor, it will still be known as lung cancer and not brain cancer, because the cancerous cells originated in the lungs before moving to the brain.

Secondary or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ICD-10 Code C34.90 Lookup

The ICD 10 non-small cell lung cancer codes for secondary lung cancers, or non-small cell lung cancers that have metastasized from other origins, are C34, “Secondary malignant neoplasm of the lungs”.[⁴]

Conclusion

The cancer that originates in the tissues of the lung and the lining of the air passages is known as either small cell or non-small cell lung cancer. The type of cancer is diagnosed by studying the cancerous cells under the microscope. Non-small cell lung cancer is also grouped with respiratory neoplasms with MCC (180), respiratory neoplasms with cc (181), and respiratory neoplasms without cc.MCC (182). Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of cancer of the lungs, and like other cancers, the cells start to reproduce rapidly leading to the formation of cancerous tumors. Also, similar to other types of cancers, it is possible to treat NSCLC if it's detected at an early stage. Possible treatment options include targeted therapy, surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments.