Pleural plaque without asbestos

This code signifies the presence of thickened, often calcified, fibrous lesions on the pleura, the lining of the lungs and chest wall. These plaques are typically benign and do not impair lung function. The key differentiator for this code is the explicit absence of asbestos exposure as the causative factor.

Apply this code when imaging studies (e.g., chest X-ray, CT scan) identify pleural plaques and the medical record clearly states that asbestos exposure has been ruled out or is not documented. This is often an incidental finding during evaluations for other conditions. Documentation must explicitly exclude asbestos as the etiology.

• Do not use this code if asbestos exposure is documented or suspected; instead, use a code from category J92 with asbestos.
• This code is typically used as a secondary diagnosis, as pleural plaques are often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.
• Ensure the physician's documentation clearly specifies "without asbestos exposure" to support the use of this specific code.