C39.0: Malignant neoplasm: Upper respiratory tract, part unspecified

The tissue in the body is made up of cells. With cancer, the cells multiply uncontrollably, which leads to a malignant neoplasm (abnormal growth of tissue) developing. The cancer cells can destroy the healthy tissue and spread throughout the body.

The respiratory tract guides air into the lungs. The upper respiratory tract begins in the mouth and nose. The sinuses are also part of the upper respiratory tract. The sinuses are connected to the nose via a small opening. The throat is located behind the mouth and nose. The throat connects the mouth and nose with the windpipe (trachea) and gullet (oesophagus). The larynx is located at the junction between the throat and windpipe. The larynx can be seen from the front as a bulge in the neck. The upper respiratory tract ends at the larynx.

The cells in your upper respiratory tract have multiplied uncontrollably.

Please note: This ICD code may also derive from the ICD-O system. If this is the case, there are usually additional letters and numbers in addition to the code. It starts with the letter M, followed by 4 digits and then a slash. There is another digit after the slash.

If it is an ICD-O code, then this does not describe a malignant cancer in all cases. The last digit after the slash gives you more detailed information about this: