2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A52.78Syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue

ICD-10-CM Codes›A00–B99›A50-A64›A52

ICD-10-CM A52.78
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

A52.78 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 557 through 558. 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 149 closely related codes. Coders also document this condition as bursitis caused by bacterial infection. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
A52.78
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue
Short Description
Syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
A52.7
Other symptomatic late syphilis

Code Classification

ChapterA00–B99Certain infectious and parasitic diseases
SectionA50-A64Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission
CategoryA52Late syphilis
This CodeA52.78Syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Bursitis caused by bacterial infection
  • Bursitis due to late syphilis
  • Infectious disorder of tendon
  • Syphilis of muscle
  • Syphilis of synovium
  • Syphilis of tendon
  • Syphilitic bursitis

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to A52.78: its own notes plus those printed at block A50-A64 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 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.

  • Late syphilitic bursitis
  • Syphilis [stage unspecified] of bursa
  • Syphilis [stage unspecified] of muscle
  • Syphilis [stage unspecified] of synovium
  • Syphilis [stage unspecified] of tendon

Excludes1

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

From Block A50-A64 Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission applies to 142 codes
  • nonspecific and nongonococcal urethritis (N34.1)
  • Reiter's disease (M02.3-)

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 Block A50-A64 Infections with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission applies to 142 codes
  • human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease (B20)
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 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 A52.78, its category, or a range that includes it.

Applicable To 1

These notes mention A52.78.

  • O98.1 Syphilis complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
    Conditions in A50-A53 names A50-A53, which includes this code

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming A52.78: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • M63 Disorders of muscle in diseases classified elsewhere
    myopathy in syphilis (late) (A52.78)

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming A52.78: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • Block A65-A69 Other spirochetal diseases
    syphilis (A50-A53) names A50-A53, 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 INF010
Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Tertiary Syphilis

    a stage of syphilis that occurs fifteen to thirty years after the initial infection; it can include gumma formation and cardiovascular or central nervous system involvement (neurosyphilis).

Patient EducationClinical

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It infects the genital area, lips, mouth, or anus of both men and women. You usually get syphilis from sexual contact with someone who has it. It can also pass from mother to baby during pregnancy.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert A52.78 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
095.6 Syphilis of muscle
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
095.7 Syphilis of tendon/bursa
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

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 A52.78Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue?

The ICD-10-CM code for syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue is A52.78 (sometimes written as A5278). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is A52.78 (Other symptomatic late syphilis) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does A52.78 group to?

When syphilis of other musculoskeletal tissue is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 557, 558, with relative weights from 0.8873 to 1.4883 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is A52.78 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists A52.78 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 149 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can A52.78 be reported with N34.1?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block A50-A64, which applies to A52.78, lists "nonspecific and nongonococcal urethritis (N34.1)". 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).