Anomaly of pleura

This code signifies a congenital malformation or structural defect of the pleura, the serous membrane lining the lungs and thoracic cavity. It encompasses any abnormal development of the visceral or parietal pleura present at birth, such as agenesis, hypoplasia, or other structural variations.

Assign this code when documentation clearly indicates a congenital anomaly of the pleura. This typically applies to cases identified through imaging studies (e.g., CT scan, MRI) or during surgical exploration, where a developmental abnormality of the pleural membrane is confirmed.

• Ensure documentation specifies "congenital" to differentiate from acquired pleural conditions.
• Do not use for acquired pleural diseases like pleurisy, effusions, or pneumothorax, which have distinct codes.
• Consider sequencing this code as a primary diagnosis if the pleural anomaly is the main reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if it's an incidental finding or contributing factor to another condition.