Skip to main content

Z08 vs Z98.86

Z08 (Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm) compared with Z98.86 (Personal history of breast implant removal), from the official CMS tabular data.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Summary

These codes can be reported together when both conditions are documented, because Z98.86 lists Z08 under Excludes2, which marks them as distinct conditions.

Official rule
What is different?

The conditions named.Z08 is “Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm”; Z98.86 is “Personal history of breast implant removal”.

Registry fact

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented.Z98.86 lists Z08 under Excludes2: “follow-up medical care (Z08-Z09)”. Excludes2 marks distinct conditions that may both be reported when both are documented.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is there an Excludes2 relationship?

Yes.Z98.86’s tabular entry: “follow-up medical care (Z08-Z09)”. The note covers Z08.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Are there sequencing instructions?

No order is given.The Code Also note linking them states no sequencing order; sequence by the reason for the encounter.

Official ruleGuide: Code First vs Use Additional Code vs Code Also

Are there other coding relationships?

Yes.Both codes may be needed together. Z98.86 carries a Code Also note covering Z08: “any follow-up examination (Z08-Z09)”

Official ruleGuide: Code First vs Use Additional Code vs Code Also

Nothing found in 2 other checks; 1 check does not apply
Is there an Excludes1 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes1 note that names the other code. Z08 carries 1 Excludes1 note covering other codes; the side-by-side table quotes them.

Official rule

Is one more specific?

Not comparable.The codes sit in different categories; specificity is only comparable within one category.

Is one a parent or header code?

No.Both are billable codes, and neither contains the other.

Registry fact

Official rule: a tabular instructional note or a section of the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, quoted as published. Registry fact: the codes’ own published attributes (titles, billable status, position in the hierarchy, code set). MedCoder-derived: a reading MedCoder computes from those facts; it is not itself a rule. How to read the labels

Can these codes be reported together?

Informational

Code Also relationship

Z98.86
Personal history of breast implant removal
↔
Z08
Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm

What we found

Both codes may be needed together.Z98.86 carries a Code Also note covering Z08: “any follow-up examination (Z08-Z09)”

A Code Also note means the two codes may both be required to fully describe the condition. CMS states no sequencing order for it — sequence by the reason for the encounter.

What to review

Report both when both are needed to describe the condition, sequenced by the reason for the encounter.

Guide: Code First vs Use Additional Code vs Code AlsoCheck these on a claim

Why it matters

A "Code Also" note means two codes may be required together, but the Guidelines state no sequencing order for it -- sequence by the reason for the encounter, not by this relationship.

Source / rule

CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

Z98.86
Personal history of breast implant removal
↔
Z08
Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm

What we found

Yes, when both are documented.Z98.86 carries an Excludes2 note covering Z08: “follow-up medical care (Z08-Z09)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

What to review

Report both only when the documentation supports both conditions; otherwise report the one documented.

Guide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2Check these on a claim

Why it matters

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source / rule

CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Official guidance behind these answers

  • Section I.A.12.b — Excludes2 · applies to: Excludes2

    A type 2 Excludes note represents “Not included here.” An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2027

  • Section I.A.17 — “Code also ” note · applies to: Code also

    A “code also” note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction. The sequencing depends on the circumstances of the encounter.

    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2027

Quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in effect for the release shown. The tabular notes above are the code-level instruction; these sections are the convention that says how such a note is applied. Source document (CMS PDF) · Release and checksum

Side by side

Similar descriptions do not make codes interchangeable. The documentation and the official instructions decide which code applies.

Official descriptionDiffers
Z08

Encounter for follow-up examination after completed treatment for malignant neoplasm

Z98.86

Personal history of breast implant removal

StatusSame for both
Billable
Excludes1Differs
Z08
  • aftercare following medical care (Z43-Z49, Z51)
Z98.86

None at this code

Excludes2Differs
Z08
  • examinations related to pregnancy and reproduction (Z30-Z36, Z39.-)
Z98.86
  • aftercare (Z43-Z49, Z51)
  • follow-up medical care (Z08-Z09)
  • Fontan related circulation (I27.84-)
  • postprocedural complication - see Alphabetical Index
Use additional codeDiffers
Z08
  • code to identify any acquired absence of organs (Z90.-)
  • code to identify the personal history of malignant neoplasm (Z85.-)
Z98.86

None at this code

Code alsoDiffers
Z08

None at this code

Z98.86
  • any follow-up examination (Z08-Z09)
CategoryDiffers
Z08

Is itself a category

Z98.86

Z98 Other postprocedural states

ChapterSame for both

Z00-Z99 — Factors Influencing Health Status and Contact with Health Services (Z00-Z99)

IncludesDiffers
Z08
  • Medical surveillance following completed treatment
Z98.86

None at this code

No Code first and 7th character note at either code.

Notes are the code’s own tabular entry, quoted as published. A note that names the other code is the one the verdict above rests on. In a row that differs, each code’s own notes are listed under it, and the notes every code shares are listed once beneath them.

Edit this comparisonCheck a whole claim

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2027). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources