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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesLung Metastases

Lung Metastases

ICD-10 Coding for Lung Metastases(C78.02, C78.00)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYOncology
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Lung Metastases?
Essential facts and insights about Lung Metastases

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Cough, chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis
  • Chest X-ray, CT scan, PET scan showing lesions
  • Decreased breath sounds, dullness on percussion, respiratory distress

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history of primary cancer, imaging results, biopsy reports
  • ICD-10-CM codes for lung metastases, specific site of primary cancer
  • Example: 'Patient with lung metastases from breast cancer, confirmed by biopsy.'

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Follow guidelines for coding secondary malignancies, avoid coding errors related to primary site
  • Common errors include misidentifying primary cancer site or failing to document metastasis.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Primary lung cancer, benign lung tumors
  • Alternative codes for other metastatic sites

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
C78.00
Secondary malignant neoplasm of unspecified part of lung
C78.01
Secondary malignant neoplasm of right lung
C78.02
Secondary malignant neoplasm of left lung
Ancillary Codes
Z85.118
Differential Codes
C34.11
C34.11
for primary lung cancer, not for metastasis.
C34.90
C34.90
for primary lung cancer, not for metastasis.

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Oncology

Specialty Applications

  • Oncology patients with known primary cancers
  • Inpatient and outpatient clinical settings

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements?

Document primary cancer diagnosis, imaging findings, and any treatments.

Billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding of primary cancer and lung metastases for proper reimbursement.