D38.5 vs D48.0
D38.5 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs) compared with D48.0 (Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of bone and articular cartilage), 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. D48.0 carries an Excludes1 note covering D38.5: “neoplasm of uncertain behavior of cartilage of nose (D38.5)”
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
| D38.5Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs | D48.0Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of bone and articular cartilage | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Billable |
| Classification | C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49) | C00-D49 — Neoplasms (C00-D49) |
| Definition | Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D38.5). | Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of bone and articular cartilage is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (D48.0). |
| Includes | 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 | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources