Excludes1 pair
J43- vs J98.2
J43 and J98.2 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.
The official note, declared on J43
interstitial emphysema (J98.2)
J98.2
Interstitial emphysema
Billable
- Chapter 10
- Diseases of the respiratory system
- Section
- J96-J99
Use when the record says
- Mediastinal emphysema
Indexed under
- Pneumomediastinum
- Air › anterior mediastinum
- Disease, diseased › Hamman's (spontaneous mediastinal emphysema)
- Emphysema › interstitial
- Emphysema › mediastinal
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027