Secondary malignant neoplasm of mediastinum

This code signifies the presence of a cancerous tumor in the mediastinum that originated from a primary malignancy located elsewhere in the body. It indicates metastatic disease affecting the space between the lungs, which contains the heart, great vessels, trachea, and esophagus.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states a secondary or metastatic malignant neoplasm involving the mediastinum. This is typically used in oncology settings for patients with known primary cancers that have spread to this region, often identified through imaging studies like CT or MRI, or biopsy.

• Always code the primary malignancy first, followed by this code for the secondary site.
• Distinguish carefully between primary mediastinal tumors (e.g., lymphoma, thymoma) and metastatic disease.
• Ensure documentation specifies "secondary" or "metastatic" to the mediastinum; "malignant neoplasm of mediastinum" alone may imply a primary tumor.