T18.120 — Food in esophagus causing compression of trachea
Is T18.120 billable?
No — T18.120 is a non-billable header code. T18.120 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 3 billable codes beneath T18.120.
T18.120 at a glance
| Code | T18.120 |
|---|---|
| Description | Food in esophagus causing compression of trachea |
| Billable | No — header code |
| Code set | ICD-10-CM FY2027 |
| Valid for encounters | October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 |
How is T18.120 listed in the Alphabetic Index?
These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to T18.120. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.
- Foreign body › esophagus › causing › tracheal compression › food
How is T18.120 listed in the External Cause Index?
These are the routes through the External Cause of Injuries Index that lead to T18.120 — how the injury happened, rather than what the injury was.
- Interruption of respiration › food (by)
Inclusion terms
Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to T18.120.
- Food in esophagus causing obstruction of respiration
Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19
Report an additional code alongside T18.120 to fully describe the condition. T18.120 is sequenced first.
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)
Use additional code — inherited from T15-T19
Report an additional code alongside T18.120 to fully describe the condition. T18.120 is sequenced first.
- code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from Chapter 19
The conditions below are not part of T18.120, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.120 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T15-T19
The conditions below are not part of T18.120, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.120 and the excluded code may both be reported.
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T18
The conditions below are not part of T18.120, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.120 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- foreign body in pharynx (T17.2-)
Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T18.1
The conditions below are not part of T18.120, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.120 and the excluded code may both be reported.
- foreign body in respiratory tract (T17.-)
What codes fall under T18.120? (3)
How long has T18.120 existed?
T18.120 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.