ICD-10 Code D38.5 – Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code D38.5 – Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of other respiratory organs
What it is
This code identifies a growth in a respiratory organ that is not clearly proven benign or malignant. Use it when pathology or documentation describes uncertain behavior in an organ outside the more specific respiratory sites.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Findings may include a mass, abnormal imaging result, or biopsy showing a neoplasm with uncertain biologic behavior.
When to use this code
Use D38.5 when the provider documents an uncertain-behavior neoplasm involving an other respiratory organ and no more specific code applies. It is appropriate when the record names the site and confirms the lesion is not clearly benign or malignant. Check documentation if the organ is unspecified.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for clearly benign or malignant respiratory tumors. Also avoid it when the lesion is documented in a more specific respiratory site that has its own code.
Coding tip
Code the documented site exactly and query when “uncertain behavior” or the organ location is unclear.