C15.4Malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus

C15.4 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus. It belongs to category C15 (malignant neoplasm of esophagus), block C15-C26 (malignant neoplasms of digestive organs) and chapter 2 (neoplasms). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within C15 (malignant neoplasm of esophagus), C15.4 is specifically for malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus. Related codes cover upper third of esophagus (C15.3), lower third of esophagus (C15.5), overlapping sites of esophagus (C15.8) and unspecified (C15.9).

Use an additional code to identify: alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-).

As a secondary diagnosis it is a CC (complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the "with CC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 374 (Digestive Malignancy with MCC, relative weight 2.1109), DRG 375 (Digestive Malignancy with CC, relative weight 1.1838) and DRG 376 (Digestive Malignancy without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.8929), in MDC 06 (Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 150.1 (malignant neoplasm of thoracic esophagus) and 150.4 (malignant neoplasm of middle third of esophagus).