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C78Non-billableSave

C78 - Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs

ICD-10-CM Chapter 2: Neoplasms · C76-C80 Malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites (C76-C80) · Top-level category · FY2027

Coding Guidance

C78 is a non-billable heading. Report one of the 9 more specific codes below.

Includes, Excludes and Coding Notes

Excludes 1 — Not Coded HereFrom C78

Mutually exclusive: these conditions are never reported together with this code.

  • secondary carcinoid tumors of liver (C7B.02)
  • secondary carcinoid tumors of peritoneum (C7B.04)
Excludes 2 — Not Included HereFrom C78

Not part of this code; report both codes when the patient has both conditions.

  • lymph node metastases (C77.0)
NotesFrom Chapter C00-D49

Instructional notes from the ICD-10-CM tabular list.

  • Functional activity
  • All neoplasms are classified in this chapter, whether they are functionally active or not. An additional code from Chapter 4 may be used, to identify functional activity associated with any neoplasm.
  • Morphology [Histology]
  • Chapter 2 classifies neoplasms primarily by site (topography), with broad groupings for behavior, malignant, in situ, benign, etc. The Table of Neoplasms should be used to identify the correct topography code. In a few cases, such as for malignant melanoma and certain neuroendocrine tumors, the morphology (histologic type) is included in the category and codes.
  • Primary malignant neoplasms overlapping site boundaries
  • A primary malignant neoplasm that overlaps two or more contiguous (next to each other) sites should be classified to the subcategory/code .8 ('overlapping lesion'), unless the combination is specifically indexed elsewhere. For multiple neoplasms of the same site that are not contiguous, such as tumors in different quadrants of the same breast, codes for each site should be assigned.
  • Malignant neoplasm of ectopic tissue
  • Malignant neoplasms of ectopic tissue are to be coded to the site mentioned, e.g., ectopic pancreatic malignant neoplasms are coded to pancreas, unspecified (C25.9).

More Specific Codes (9)

C78.0Secondary malignant neoplasm of lung→C78.1Secondary malignant neoplasm of mediastinum→C78.2Secondary malignant neoplasm of pleura→C78.3Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified respiratory organs→C78.4Secondary malignant neoplasm of small intestine→C78.5Secondary malignant neoplasm of large intestine and rectum→C78.6Secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum→C78.7Secondary malignant neoplasm of liver and intrahepatic bile duct→C78.8Secondary malignant neoplasm of other and unspecified digestive organs→

Related condition guides

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with C78.