S20.35 — Superficial foreign body of front wall of thorax
Is S20.35 billable?
No — S20.35 is a non-billable header code. S20.35 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 15 billable codes beneath S20.35.
Billable codes under this header
- S20.351ASuperficial foreign body of right front wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.351DSuperficial foreign body of right front wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.351SSuperficial foreign body of right front wall of thorax, sequela
- S20.352ASuperficial foreign body of left front wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.352DSuperficial foreign body of left front wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.352SSuperficial foreign body of left front wall of thorax, sequela
- S20.353ASuperficial foreign body of bilateral front wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.353DSuperficial foreign body of bilateral front wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.353SSuperficial foreign body of bilateral front wall of thorax, sequela
- S20.354ASuperficial foreign body of middle front wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.354DSuperficial foreign body of middle front wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.354SSuperficial foreign body of middle front wall of thorax, sequela
- S20.359ASuperficial foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax, initial encounter
- S20.359DSuperficial foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax, subsequent encounter
- S20.359SSuperficial foreign body of unspecified front wall of thorax, sequela
S20.35 at a glance
| Code | S20.35 |
|---|---|
| Description | Superficial foreign body of front wall of thorax |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is S20.35 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to S20.35. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Foreign body › superficial, without open wound › thorax, thoracic › front
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to S20.35.
- Splinter in front wall of thorax
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside S20.35 to fully describe the condition. S20.35 is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of S20.35, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.35 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from S20-S29
The conditions below are not part of S20.35, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, S20.35 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- burns and corrosions (T20-T32)
- effects of foreign body in bronchus (T17.5)
- effects of foreign body in esophagus (T18.1)
- effects of foreign body in lung (T17.8)
- effects of foreign body in trachea (T17.4)
- frostbite (T33-T34)
- injuries of axilla
- injuries of clavicle
- injuries of scapular region
- injuries of shoulder
- insect bite or sting, venomous (T63.4)
What codes fall under S20.35? (5)
- S20.351Superficial foreign body of right front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.352Superficial foreign body of left front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.353Superficial foreign body of bilateral front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.354Superficial foreign body of middle front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.359Superficial foreign body of unspecified front wall of thoraxnot billable
How long has S20.35 existed?
S20.35 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.
What other codes are in the S20.3 family? (6)
- S20.30Unspecified superficial injuries of front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.31Abrasion of front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.32Blister (nonthermal) of front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.34External constriction of front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.36Insect bite (nonvenomous) of front wall of thoraxnot billable
- S20.37Other superficial bite of front wall of thoraxnot billable