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Compare/D38 vs D48.7

D38 vs D48.7

D38 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organs) compared with D48.7 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.

Can these codes be reported together?

No — do not report together. D38 carries an Excludes1 note covering D48.7: “neoplasm of uncertain behavior of heart (D48.7)”

Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Side by side

D38Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organsD48.7Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites
Billing statusNon-billable header

Report instead: D38.0, D38.1, D38.2, D38.3, D38.4

Billable
ClassificationC00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49)C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49)
DefinitionNeoplasm of uncertain behavior of middle ear and respiratory and intrathoracic organs is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (D38).Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other specified sites is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D48.7).
Includes
Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of eye
Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of heart
Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of peripheral nerves of orbit

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources