Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z18.9

Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material

ICD-10-CM Code:: Z18.9
ICD-10 Code for:: Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material
Is Billable?: Yes - Valid for Submission
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Code Information
Approximate Synonyms
Clinical Classification
Clinical Information
Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
Index to Diseases and Injuries References
Code Edits
Present on Admission (POA)
Convert to ICD-9 Code
Patient Education
Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
Code History

Code Classification

Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
(Z00–Z99)
- Retained foreign body fragments
  (Z18)
  - Retained foreign body fragments
    (Z18)

Z18.9 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The code is exempt from present on admission (POA) reporting for inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals.

This code describes a circumstance which influences the patient's health status but not a current illness or injury. The code is unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like Z18.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Bilateral retained intraocular nonmagnetic foreign body due to and following eye trauma
Cutaneous reaction to injected foreign material
Foreign body accident - orifice
Foreign body dermatosis
Foreign body granuloma of colon
Foreign body granuloma of intestine
Foreign body granuloma of intestine
Foreign body granuloma of penis
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left ankle
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left foot
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left forearm
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left hand
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left lower leg
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left thigh
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left upper arm
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right ankle
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right foot
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right forearm
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right hand
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right lower leg
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right thigh
Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right upper arm
Foreign body in anterior abdominal wall
Foreign body in anterior abdominal wall
Foreign body in anterior chamber
Foreign body in anterior segment of eyeball
Foreign body in anus
Foreign body in anus
Foreign body in auricle
Foreign body in bone
Foreign body in bone
Foreign body in fallopian tube
Foreign body in female genital organs and perineum
Foreign body in female perineum
Foreign body in female perineum
Foreign body in gingival mucous membrane
Foreign body in gingival mucous membrane
Foreign body in gingival mucous membrane with infection
Foreign body in heart
Foreign body in heel
Foreign body in jaw bone
Foreign body in lacrimal punctum
Foreign body in lacrimal punctum
Foreign body in left ear
Foreign body in left ear
Foreign body in left ear
Foreign body in lip
Foreign body in lip
Foreign body in lip
Foreign body in lip
Foreign body in male genital organs and perineum
Foreign body in male genital organs and perineum
Foreign body in male genital organs and perineum
Foreign body in male genital organs and perineum
Foreign body in male perineum
Foreign body in male perineum
Foreign body in male perineum
Foreign body in male perineum
Foreign body in male perineum
Foreign body in maxillary sinus
Foreign body in middle ear
Foreign body in middle ear
Foreign body in middle ear
Foreign body in mucosa of vagina
Foreign body in mucosa of vagina
Foreign body in mucosa of vagina with infection
Foreign body in nasal sinus
Foreign body in oral mucosa
Foreign body in oral mucosa
Foreign body in ovary
Foreign body in penis
Foreign body in penis
Foreign body in prostate
Foreign body in right ear
Foreign body in right ear
Foreign body in right ear
Foreign body in sclera
Foreign body in scrotum
Foreign body in scrotum
Foreign body in scrotum
Foreign body in scrotum
Foreign body in skin of abdomen
Foreign body in skin of abdomen
Foreign body in skin of abdomen with infection
Foreign body in skin of ankle
Foreign body in skin of ankle
Foreign body in skin of ankle
Foreign body in skin of ankle with infection
Foreign body in skin of axilla
Foreign body in skin of axilla with infection
Foreign body in skin of back
Foreign body in skin of back
Foreign body in skin of back
Foreign body in skin of back
Foreign body in skin of back
Foreign body in skin of back with infection
Foreign body in skin of back with infection
Foreign body in skin of back with infection
Foreign body in skin of breast
Foreign body in skin of breast with infection
Foreign body in skin of buttock
Foreign body in skin of buttock with infection
Foreign body in skin of calf
Foreign body in skin of cheek
Foreign body in skin of cheek with infection
Foreign body in skin of chest
Foreign body in skin of chest
Foreign body in skin of chest
Foreign body in skin of chest
Foreign body in skin of chest
Foreign body in skin of chest
Foreign body in skin of ear
Foreign body in skin of ear
Foreign body in skin of ear
Foreign body in skin of ear
Foreign body in skin of ear with infection
Foreign body in skin of elbow
Foreign body in skin of elbow with infection
Foreign body in skin of face
Foreign body in skin of face with infection
Foreign body in skin of face with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand
Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger with infection
Foreign body in skin of finger with infection
Foreign body in skin of flank
Foreign body in skin of flank
Foreign body in skin of flank with infection
Foreign body in skin of foot
Foreign body in skin of foot with infection
Foreign body in skin of foot with infection
Foreign body in skin of foot with infection
Foreign body in skin of foot with infection
Foreign body in skin of forearm
Foreign body in skin of forearm with infection
Foreign body in skin of genitalia
Foreign body in skin of genitalia
Foreign body in skin of genitalia
Foreign body in skin of genitalia
Foreign body in skin of great toe
Foreign body in skin of great toe
Foreign body in skin of groin
Foreign body in skin of groin with infection
Foreign body in skin of hand with infection
Foreign body in skin of head
Foreign body in skin of head and neck
Foreign body in skin of hip
Foreign body in skin of hip with infection
Foreign body in skin of interscapular region
Foreign body in skin of interscapular region
Foreign body in skin of interscapular region with infection
Foreign body in skin of left ankle
Foreign body in skin of left ear
Foreign body in skin of left great toe
Foreign body in skin of left little finger
Foreign body in skin of left middle finger
Foreign body in skin of left ring finger
Foreign body in skin of left shoulder
Foreign body in skin of left wrist
Foreign body in skin of lesser toe of left foot
Foreign body in skin of lesser toe of right foot
Foreign body in skin of lip
Foreign body in skin of little finger
Foreign body in skin of little finger
Foreign body in skin of lower leg
Foreign body in skin of lower limb with infection
Foreign body in skin of middle finger
Foreign body in skin of middle finger
Foreign body in skin of mouth
Foreign body in skin of neck
Foreign body in skin of neck
Foreign body in skin of neck
Foreign body in skin of neck with infection
Foreign body in skin of nose
Foreign body in skin of nose with infection
Foreign body in skin of penis
Foreign body in skin of penis
Foreign body in skin of penis with infection
Foreign body in skin of perineum
Foreign body in skin of perineum
Foreign body in skin of perineum
Foreign body in skin of perineum
Foreign body in skin of right ankle
Foreign body in skin of right ear
Foreign body in skin of right great toe
Foreign body in skin of right little finger
Foreign body in skin of right middle finger
Foreign body in skin of right ring finger
Foreign body in skin of right shoulder
Foreign body in skin of right wrist
Foreign body in skin of ring finger
Foreign body in skin of ring finger
Foreign body in skin of scalp
Foreign body in skin of scalp with infection
Foreign body in skin of scapular region
Foreign body in skin of scapular region
Foreign body in skin of scapular region with infection
Foreign body in skin of scrotum
Foreign body in skin of scrotum
Foreign body in skin of scrotum with infection
Foreign body in skin of shoulder
Foreign body in skin of shoulder
Foreign body in skin of shoulder
Foreign body in skin of shoulder with infection
Foreign body in skin of sole of foot
Foreign body in skin of thigh
Foreign body in skin of thigh
Foreign body in skin of thigh with infection
Foreign body in skin of toe
Foreign body in skin of toe
Foreign body in skin of toe
Foreign body in skin of toe
Foreign body in skin of toe
Foreign body in skin of toe with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
Foreign body in skin of upper arm
Foreign body in skin of upper arm with infection
Foreign body in skin of wrist
Foreign body in skin of wrist
Foreign body in skin of wrist
Foreign body in skin of wrist with infection
Foreign body in testis
Foreign body in testis
Foreign body in thumb
Foreign body in upper respiratory tract
Foreign body in vagina
Foreign body in vagina
Foreign body in vas deferens
Foreign body in vulva
Foreign body in vulva
Foreign body left in elbow
Foreign body left in hand
Foreign body left in hip
Foreign body left in wound
Foreign body of body cavity and wall
Foreign body of breast
Foreign body of breast
Foreign body of breast
Foreign body of cardiovascular structure
Foreign body of cardiovascular structure
Foreign body of cardiovascular structure
Foreign body of cardiovascular structure
Foreign body of endocrine structure
Foreign body of endocrine structure
Foreign body of foot
Foreign body of left lacrimal punctum
Foreign body of musculoskeletal structure
Foreign body of musculoskeletal structure
Foreign body of right lacrimal punctum
Foreign body on left external eye
Foreign body on right external eye
Gingival foreign body
Gingival foreign body
Granuloma of intestine
Granuloma of intestine
Impalement of foreign body in back
Intra-abdominal foreign body
Intracranial foreign body
Intraocular foreign body in vitreous
Laceration of abdomen with foreign body
Laceration of ankle
Laceration of ankle with foreign body
Laceration of finger with foreign body
Laceration of foot with foreign body
Laceration of foot with foreign body
Laceration of hand with foreign body
Laceration of hand with foreign body
Laceration of hip
Laceration of hip with foreign body
Laceration of lower back
Laceration of lower back with foreign body
Laceration of neck with foreign body
Laceration of pelvis with foreign body
Laceration of shoulder region with foreign body
Laceration of thorax with foreign body
Laceration of toe with foreign body
Laceration of wrist
Laceration of wrist with foreign body
Laceration with foreign body of head
Obstruction of inferior vena cava
Obstruction of inferior vena cava with foreign body
Obstruction of superior vena cava
Obstruction of superior vena cava with foreign body
Penetrating wound of abdomen
Penetrating wound of eye
Penetrating wound of eyeball with foreign body
Perforating wound of stomach following ingestion of foreign material
Peritoneal foreign body
Puncture wound and foreign body of ankle
Puncture wound and foreign body of foot
Puncture wound and foreign body of foot
Puncture wound of abdomen
Puncture wound of abdomen with foreign body
Puncture wound of ankle
Puncture wound of back
Puncture wound of chest
Puncture wound of finger with foreign body
Puncture wound of hand with foreign body
Puncture wound of head with foreign body
Puncture wound of hip
Puncture wound of hip with foreign body
Puncture wound of lower back
Puncture wound of lower back with foreign body
Puncture wound of pelvic region
Puncture wound of pelvic region with foreign body
Puncture wound of shoulder
Puncture wound of shoulder region with foreign body
Puncture wound of thigh
Puncture wound of thigh with foreign body
Puncture wound of thorax with foreign body
Puncture wound of toe
Puncture wound of toe with foreign body
Puncture wound of wrist
Puncture wound of wrist with foreign body
Residual foreign body in bone
Retained foreign body
Retained foreign body in ankle region
Retained foreign body in anterior chamber of left eye
Retained foreign body in foot
Retained foreign body in knee region
Retained foreign body in shoulder region
Retained foreign body in wrist region
Retained foreign body of bilateral middle ears
Retained foreign body of eyelid
Retained foreign body of eyelid
Retained foreign body of left middle ear
Retained foreign body of left middle ear
Retained foreign body of lower eyelid
Retained foreign body of middle ear
Retained foreign body of middle ear
Retained foreign body of middle ear
Retained foreign body of right middle ear
Retained foreign body of right middle ear
Retained foreign body of upper eyelid
Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in left eye
Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in multiple sites of the eye
Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in right eye
Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in vitreous
Retained nonmagnetic intraocular foreign body
Retained nonmagnetic intraocular foreign body
Retained nonmagnetic intraocular foreign body
Splinter in ankle
Splinter in eyelid
Splinter in face
Splinter of scrotum and testis without major open wound, infected
Splinter of scrotum and testis, without major open wound
Splinter of trunk without major open wound, infected
Superficial foreign body in anus
Superficial foreign body in anus
Superficial foreign body in head
Superficial foreign body in left breast
Superficial foreign body in left foot with infection
Superficial foreign body in lip
Superficial foreign body in lip
Superficial foreign body in low back
Superficial foreign body in mouth
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in perineum
Superficial foreign body in right breast
Superficial foreign body in right foot with infection
Superficial foreign body in vulva
Superficial foreign body in vulva
Superficial foreign body of anus with infection
Superficial foreign body of chest wall with infection
Superficial foreign body of chest wall with infection
Superficial foreign body of chest wall with infection
Superficial foreign body of chest wall with infection
Superficial foreign body of left middle finger with infection
Superficial foreign body of lip with infection
Superficial foreign body of perineum with infection
Superficial foreign body of perineum with infection
Superficial foreign body of perineum with infection
Superficial foreign body of perineum with infection
Superficial foreign body of perineum with infection
Superficial foreign body of right middle finger with infection
Superficial foreign body of skin of left foot
Superficial foreign body of skin of left foot
Superficial foreign body of skin of right foot
Superficial foreign body of skin of right foot
Superficial foreign body of throat
Superficial foreign body of vulva with infection
Superficial foreign body with infection
Superficial injury of abdominal wall with infection
Superficial injury of abdominal wall with infection
Superficial injury of ankle with infection
Superficial injury of anus
Superficial injury of anus
Superficial injury of anus with infection
Superficial injury of axilla with infection
Superficial injury of breast with infection
Superficial injury of buttock with infection
Superficial injury of cheek with infection
Superficial injury of ear with infection
Superficial injury of elbow with infection
Superficial injury of flank
Superficial injury of flank
Superficial injury of flank with infection
Superficial injury of forearm with infection
Superficial injury of groin
Superficial injury of groin with infection
Superficial injury of gum
Superficial injury of gum
Superficial injury of gum with infection
Superficial injury of head and neck
Superficial injury of hip with infection
Superficial injury of interscapular region
Superficial injury of interscapular region
Superficial injury of interscapular region with infection
Superficial injury of left ear
Superficial injury of left ring finger
Superficial injury of lip
Superficial injury of lip with infection
Superficial injury of neck with infection
Superficial injury of nose
Superficial injury of nose with infection
Superficial injury of penis
Superficial injury of penis
Superficial injury of penis with infection
Superficial injury of right ear
Superficial injury of right ring finger
Superficial injury of scalp with infection
Superficial injury of scapular region
Superficial injury of scapular region
Superficial injury of scapular region with infection
Superficial injury of scrotum
Superficial injury of scrotum
Superficial injury of scrotum with infection
Superficial injury of shoulder with infection
Superficial injury of skin of great toe of left foot
Superficial injury of skin of great toe of right foot
Superficial injury of sole of foot
Superficial injury of thigh with infection
Superficial injury of upper arm with infection
Superficial injury of vagina
Superficial injury of vagina
Superficial injury of vagina with infection
Superficial injury of vulva
Superficial injury of vulva
Superficial injury of vulva with infection
Superficial injury of wrist with infection
Traumatic perforation of stomach

Clinical Classification

Clinical Category is Other specified status
CCSR Category Code: FAC025
Inpatient Default CCSR: X - Not applicable.
Outpatient Default CCSR: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Clinical Information

Foreign Body in Penis
extraneous material located within the penis.

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

- Retained - See Also: Retention;
- - foreign body fragments (type of) - Z18.9
- - fragments (type of ) - Z18.9

Code Edits

The Medicare Code Editor (MCE) detects and reports errors in the coding of claims data. The following ICD-10-CM Code Edits are applicable to this code:

Unacceptable principal diagnosis - There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)

Z18.9 is exempt from POA reporting - The Present on Admission (POA) indicator is used for diagnosis codes included in claims involving inpatient admissions to general acute care hospitals. POA indicators must be reported to CMS on each claim to facilitate the grouping of diagnoses codes into the proper Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG). CMS publishes a listing of specific diagnosis codes that are exempt from the POA reporting requirement. Review other POA exempt codes here.

CMS POA Indicator Options and Definitions

POA Indicator	Reason for Code	CMS will pay the CC/MCC DRG?
Y	Diagnosis was present at time of inpatient admission.	YES
N	Diagnosis was not present at time of inpatient admission.	NO
U	Documentation insufficient to determine if the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.	NO
W	Clinically undetermined - unable to clinically determine whether the condition was present at the time of inpatient admission.	YES
1	Unreported/Not used - Exempt from POA reporting.	NO

Convert Z18.9 to ICD-9-CM

ICD-9-CM Code: V90.9 - Retain FB, mat NOS

Patient Education

Foreign Bodies

If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body. Foreign bodies are more common in small children, who sometimes stick things in their mouths, ears, and noses.

Some foreign bodies, like a small splinter, do not cause serious harm. Inhaled or swallowed foreign bodies may cause choking or bowel obstruction and may require medical care.

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.