2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A18.01Tuberculosis of spine

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A15-A19›A18

ICD-10-CM A18.01
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

A18.01 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for tuberculosis of spine. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 456 through 458, 539 through 541, 974 through 976. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 1 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Infective arthritis and Tuberculosis.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A18.01
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Tuberculosis of spine
Short Description
Tuberculosis of spine
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A18.0
Tuberculosis of bones and joints

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA15-A19Tuberculosis
CategoryA18Tuberculosis of other organs
This CodeA18.01Tuberculosis of spine

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Infection of cervicothoracic region of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Infection of multiple sites of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Infection of multiple sites of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
  • Infection of musculoskeletal system caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Infection of sacrum
  • Infection of thoracolumbar region of spine caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Multifocal tuberculosis
  • Pott's curvature
  • Secondary kyphosis
  • Spinal cord compression due to granulomatous disorder
  • Tuberculosis of bone of multiple sites
  • Tuberculosis of cervical spine
  • Tuberculosis of lumbar spine
  • Tuberculosis of lumbosacral spine
  • Tuberculosis of thoracic spine
  • Tuberculosis of vertebral column
  • Tuberculous abscess
  • Tuberculous abscess of sacrum
  • Tuberculous spinal cord compression
  • Vertebral abscess

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to A18.01: its own notes plus those printed at block A15-A19 and Chapter 1. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

From Block A15-A19 Tuberculosis applies to 51 codes
  • infections due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis
From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • diseases generally recognized as communicable or transmissible

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Pott's disease or curvature of spine
  • Tuberculous arthritis
  • Tuberculous osteomyelitis of spine
  • Tuberculous spondylitis

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From Block A15-A19 Tuberculosis applies to 51 codes
  • congenital tuberculosis (P37.0)
  • nonspecific reaction to test for tuberculosis without active tuberculosis (R76.1-)
  • pneumoconiosis associated with tuberculosis, any type in A15 (J65)
  • positive PPD (R76.11)
  • positive tuberculin skin test without active tuberculosis (R76.11)
  • sequelae of tuberculosis (B90.-)
  • silicotuberculosis (J65)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • carrier or suspected carrier of infectious disease (Z22.-)
  • certain localized infections - see body system-related chapters
  • infectious and parasitic diseases complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O98.-)
  • infectious and parasitic diseases specific to the perinatal period (P35-P39)
  • influenza and other acute respiratory infections (J00-J22)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Block A15-A19 Tuberculosis applies to 51 codes
  • code, if applicable, for associated cachexia (E88.A)
From Chapter 1 (A00-B99) Certain infectious and parasitic diseases applies to 1,068 codes
  • code to identify resistance to antimicrobial drugs (Z16.-)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name A18.01, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention A18.01.

  • O98.0 Tuberculosis complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
    Conditions in A15-A19 names A15-A19, which includes this code

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming A18.01: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M01 Direct infections of joint in infectious and parasitic diseases classified elsewhere
    tuberculosis arthritis (A18.01-A18.02)
  • M49 Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere
    curvature of spine in tuberculosis [Pott's] (A18.01)
  • M49 Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere
    tuberculous spondylitis (A18.01)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming A18.01: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • A31 Infection due to other mycobacteria
    tuberculosis (A15-A19) names A15-A19, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR MUS001
Infective arthritis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR INF001
Tuberculosis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Pott Disease

    tuberculosis of the vertebrae.

Patient EducationClinical

Spine Injuries and Disorders

Your backbone, or spine, is made up of 26 bone discs called vertebrae. The vertebrae protect your spinal cord and allow you to stand and bend. A number of problems can change the structure of the spine or damage the vertebrae and surrounding tissue. They include:

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert A18.01 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
015.00 TB of vertebra-unspec
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
015.00 TB of vertebra-unspec
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
737.40 Spin curv NOS in oth dis
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
015.00 TB of vertebra-unspec
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
711.48 Bact arthritis NEC
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
015.00 TB of vertebra-unspec
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
730.88 Bone infect NEC-oth site
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
015.00 TB of vertebra-unspec
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
720.81 Spondylopathy in oth dis
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
015.00 TB of vertebra-unspec
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.
ICD-9-CM
737.42 Lordosis in oth dis
ApproximateCombination The match is approximate, and more than one code can be needed to describe the source diagnosis. Confirm with contextual judgment.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About A18.01Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for tuberculosis of spine?

The ICD-10-CM code for tuberculosis of spine is A18.01 (sometimes written as A1801). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is A18.01 (Tuberculosis of bones and joints) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report tuberculosis of spine on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does A18.01 group to?

When tuberculosis of spine is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 974, 976, 975, 541, 456, 457, 539, 540, 458, with relative weights from 0.7879 to 7.6211 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is A18.01 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists A18.01 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 1 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can A18.01 be reported with P37.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block A15-A19, which applies to A18.01, lists "congenital tuberculosis (P37.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).