ICDcodes.org
FY2027

T18.9 — Foreign body of alimentary tract, part unspecified

Not billable

Is T18.9 billable?

No — T18.9 is a non-billable header code. T18.9 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 T18.9.

T18.9 at a glance

CodeT18.9
DescriptionForeign body of alimentary tract, part unspecified
BillableNo — header code
Code setICD-10-CM FY2027
Valid for encountersOctober 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027

How is T18.9 listed in the Alphabetic Index?

These are the routes through the Alphabetic Index that lead to T18.9. They show the wording a clinician may have documented, which often differs from the Tabular description.

  • Bezoar
  • Phytobezoar
  • Trichobezoar
  • Trichophytobezoar
  • Foreign body › alimentary tract
  • Foreign body › ingestion, ingested NOS
  • Foreign body › swallowed
  • Foreign body › entering through orifice › alimentary canal
  • Foreign body › entering through orifice › digestive organ or tract NOS
  • Foreign body › entering through orifice › gastrointestinal tract

How is T18.9 listed in the External Cause Index?

The External Cause of Injuries Index lists these routes under T18, the nearest indexed parent of T18.9. This is a separate index from the Alphabetic Index and is where external cause codes are looked up.

  • Aspiration › food
  • Choked, choking › food (on) (any object except food or vomitus)
  • Foodin › air passages (any type)
  • Foodin › alimentary tract causing asphyxia (any type)
  • Asphyxia, asphyxiation › by › food
  • Compression › trachea by › food

Inclusion terms

Alternative wording in documentation that is classified to T18.9.

  • Foreign body in digestive system NOS
  • Swallowed foreign body NOS

Use additional code — inherited from Chapter 19

Report an additional code alongside T18.9 to fully describe the condition. T18.9 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 T18.9 to fully describe the condition. T18.9 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 T18.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • birth trauma (P10-P15)
  • obstetric trauma (O70-O71)

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T15-T19

The conditions below are not part of T18.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • foreign body accidentally left in operation wound (T81.5-)
  • foreign body in penetrating wound - See open wound by body region
  • residual foreign body in soft tissue (M79.5)
  • splinter, without open wound - See superficial injury by body region

Excludes2 — not included here — inherited from T18

The conditions below are not part of T18.9, but a patient may have both at the same time. When documentation supports it, T18.9 and the excluded code may both be reported.

  • foreign body in pharynx (T17.2-)

What codes fall under T18.9? (3)

How long has T18.9 existed?

T18.9 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 conditions are coded to T18.9?

What other codes are in the T18 family? (7)