MCMedicalCodingSoftware
J38.2

J38.2: Nodules of vocal cords

Billable / specific codeICD-10-CM

J38.2 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code for nodules of vocal cords. It is valid for submission on a claim.

Check J38.2 with the rest of the claim: free scrubber

Inclusion terms

Alternative wordings a physician may use in the chart for this same code.

  • Chorditis (fibrinous)(nodosa)(tuberosa)
  • Singer's nodes
  • Teacher's nodes

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above J38.2

A category’s note binds every code beneath it.

Written on J38: Diseases of vocal cords and larynx, not elsewhere classified

  • congenital laryngeal stridor (P28.89)
  • obstructive laryngitis (acute) (J05.0)
  • postprocedural subglottic stenosis (J95.5)
  • stridor (R06.1)
  • ulcerative laryngitis (J04.0)

Risk adjustment

No CMS-HCC V28 category: this code does not change a RAF score.

Medicare coverage

J38.2 is named in 5 Medicare coverage policies: 5 listing it as supporting medical necessity. Which one applies depends on your Medicare contractor.

  • A52866Billing and Coding: Speech-Language Pathology
  • A53052Billing and Coding: Home Health Speech-Language Pathology
  • A54111Billing and Coding: Speech Language Pathology (SLP) Services: Communication Disorders
  • A56868Billing and Coding: Outpatient Speech Language Pathology

Alphabetic index entries that lead here

  • Chorditis(fibrinous) (nodosa) (tuberosa)
  • Singer's node or nodule
  • Teacher's node or nodule
  • Node›singer's
  • Node›teacher's
  • Node›vocal cord
  • Nodule, nodular›singer's
  • Nodule, nodular›teacher's
  • Nodule, nodular›vocal cord

Code history

Unchanged in every release from FY2024 to FY2027.

Other codes under J38

ICD-10-CMFY2027· effective October 1, 2026

Loaded directly from the CMS/NCHS ICD-10-CM public-domain release: see data sources and our editorial policy. If this page disagrees with the CMS tabular list, this page is wrong. Reference information for professional coders; not medical or billing advice.