Skip to content
Dx

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

C78Secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs

Not billable — use a more specific code

C78 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 9 more specific codes beneath it.Short description: Secondary malignant neoplasm of resp and digestive organs

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About C78

C78 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for secondary malignant neoplasm of respiratory and digestive organs. It belongs to block C76-C80 (malignant neoplasms of ill-defined, other secondary and unspecified sites) and chapter 2 (neoplasms). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 9 subcodes must be used instead.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: C78.0 (lung), C78.1 (mediastinum), C78.2 (pleura), C78.3 (organs), C78.4 (intestine), C78.5 (rectum), C78.6 (peritoneum), C78.7 (duct) and 1 more.

Don't report C78 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: secondary carcinoid tumors of liver (C7B.02) and secondary carcinoid tumors of peritoneum (C7B.04).

The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of C78, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: lymph node metastases (C77.0).

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

Specific codes under C78

Coding notes

Excludes1Not coded here — never report together with this code
  • secondary carcinoid tumors of liver (C7B.02)
  • secondary carcinoid tumors of peritoneum (C7B.04)
Excludes2Not included here — may be reported together if both conditions exist
  • lymph node metastases (C77.0)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to C78.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 2: Neoplasms.

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about C78

Is C78 billable?

No. C78 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.