ICDcodes.org
FY2027

J86 — Pyothorax

Not billable

Is J86 billable?

No — J86 is a non-billable header code. J86 groups more specific codes and cannot be submitted on a claim. A valid ICD-10-CM code must be reported at the highest level of specificity available in its branch. Select one of the 2 billable codes beneath J86.

J86 at a glance

CodeJ86
DescriptionPyothorax
BillableNo — header code
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

Excludes1 — never code together

The conditions below can never be reported together with J86 on the same claim. An Excludes1 note means the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient, so reporting both is a coding error.

  • abscess of lung (J85.-)
  • pyothorax due to tuberculosis (A15.6)

Use additional code

Report an additional code alongside J86 to fully describe the condition. J86 is sequenced first.

  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 10

Report an additional code alongside J86 to fully describe the condition. J86 is sequenced first.

  • code, where applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 10

The conditions below are not part of J86, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, J86 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

What codes fall under J86? (2)

How long has J86 existed?

J86 has been in ICD-10-CM since at least FY2016, the earliest fiscal year on record here.

Derived from the official order files for FY2016–FY2026. FY2017 and FY2020 publish no order file, so those years are not covered.

Which codes are confused with J86?

ICD-10-CM declares these codes mutually exclusive with J86 — exactly one of each pair can be correct for a given encounter.