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ICD10BillableValid for clinical use

ICD-10 Code J91.0: Malignant pleural effusion

J91.0 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Malignant pleural effusion in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99).

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99).

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents malignant pleural effusion in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

What it does not mean

  • A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
  • A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.

Code hierarchy

chapter
10Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
block
J90-J94Other diseases of the pleura
category
J91Pleural effusion in conditions classified elsewhere
currentJ91

Official coding notes

Applicable to
  • underlying neoplasm (C00-D49)
Code first
  • underlying neoplasm (C00-D49)

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

PulmonologistGeneral Physician

Coverage-related procedures and services

CPT 81540high
ONCOLOGY (TUMOR OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN), MRNA, GENE EXPRESSION PROFILING BY REAL-TIME RT-PCR OF 92 GENES (87 CONTENT AND 5 HOUSEKEEPING) TO CLASSIFY TUMOR INTO MAIN CANCER TYPE AND SUBTYPE, UTILIZING FORMALIN-FIXED PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED TISSUE, ALGORITHM REPORTED AS A PROBABILITY OF A PREDICTED MAIN CANCER TYPE AND SUBTYPE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 31720high
CATHETER ASPIRATION (SEPARATE PROCEDURE); NASOTRACHEAL
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 94664high
DEMONSTRATION AND/OR EVALUATION OF PATIENT UTILIZATION OF AN AEROSOL GENERATOR, NEBULIZER, METERED DOSE INHALER OR IPPB DEVICE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 94640high
PRESSURIZED OR NONPRESSURIZED INHALATION TREATMENT FOR ACUTE AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION FOR THERAPEUTIC PURPOSES AND/OR FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES SUCH AS SPUTUM INDUCTION WITH AN AEROSOL GENERATOR, NEBULIZER, METERED DOSE INHALER OR INTERMITTENT POSITIVE PRESSURE BREATHING (IPPB) DEVICE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 94642high
AEROSOL INHALATION OF PENTAMIDINE FOR PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA TREATMENT OR PROPHYLAXIS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 94728high
AIRWAY RESISTANCE BY OSCILLOMETRY
Source: CMS coverage guidance

Coding guidelines

Common synonyms

Malignant pleural effusion

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeJ91.0
SystemICD10
Display nameMalignant pleural effusion
ChapterDiseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
BlockOther diseases of the pleura

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

Index terms

Matched terms
EffusionEffusion

About this content

This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.