J98.5Diseases of mediastinum, not elsewhere classified

J98.5 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for diseases of mediastinum, not elsewhere classified. It belongs to category J98 (other respiratory disorders), block J96-J99 (other diseases of the respiratory system) and chapter 10 (diseases of the respiratory system). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 2 subcodes must be used instead.

Within J98 (other respiratory disorders), J98.5 is specifically for diseases of mediastinum, not elsewhere classified. Related codes cover diseases of bronchus, not elsewhere classified (J98.0), pulmonary collapse (J98.1), interstitial emphysema (J98.2), Compensatory emphysema (J98.3), other disorders of lung (J98.4), disorders of diaphragm (J98.6), other specified respiratory disorders (J98.8) and respiratory disorder, unspecified (J98.9).

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: J98.51 (Mediastinitis) and J98.59 (classified).

The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of J98.5, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: abscess of mediastinum (J85.3).

Use an additional code to identify: exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22), exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81), history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891), occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31), tobacco dependence (F17.-) and 1 more.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015, and changed in FY2017 (expanded into subcodes).