ICDcodes.org
FY2027

J90 vs J91.0

J90 and J91.0 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.

The official note, declared on J90
malignant pleural effusion (J91.0))
J90

Pleural effusion, not elsewhere classified

BillableUnspecified
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J90-J94
Use when the record says
  • Encysted pleurisy
  • Pleural effusion NOS
  • Pleurisy with effusion (exudative) (serous)
Indexed under
  • Effusion › pleura, pleurisy, pleuritic, pleuropericardial
  • Pleurisy › pneumococcal (acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
  • Pleurisy › streptococcal (acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
  • Pleurisy › with › effusion (acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
J91.0

Malignant pleural effusion

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J90-J94
Indexed under
  • Effusion › malignant pleural
  • Effusion › pleura, pleurisy, pleuritic, pleuropericardial › malignant

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