2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J36Peritonsillar abscess

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J30-J39›J36

ICD-10-CM J36
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J36 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for peritonsillar abscess. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 152 through 153. Coders also document this condition as abscess of pharynx. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Acute and chronic tonsillitis.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J36
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Peritonsillar abscess
Chapter
J30-J39
Other diseases of upper respiratory tract

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ30-J39Other diseases of upper respiratory tract
CategoryJ36Peritonsillar abscess
This CodeJ36Peritonsillar abscess

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abscess of pharynx
  • Abscess of tonsil
  • Cellulitis of pharynx
  • Peritonsillar abscess
  • Peritonsillar cellulitis
  • Recurrent peritonsillar abscess

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Includes

  • abscess of tonsil
  • peritonsillar cellulitis
  • quinsy

Use Additional Code

Type 1 Excludes

  • acute tonsillitis J03
  • chronic tonsillitis J35.0
  • retropharyngeal abscess J39.0
  • tonsillitis NOS J03.9

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • circumtonsillar
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • intratonsillar
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • lingual
        • tonsil
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • peritonsillar
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • posttonsillar
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • tonsil (s) (lingual)
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • tonsillopharyngeal
    • Angina(attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
      • phlegmonous
    • Angina(attack) (cardiac) (chest) (heart) (pectoris) (syndrome) (vasomotor)
      • tonsil
    • Cellulitis(diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative)
      • peritonsillar
    • Cellulitis(diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative)
      • tonsil
    • Cynanche
      • tonsillaris
    • Gangrene, gangrenous(connective tissue) (dropsical) (dry) (moist) (skin) (ulcer)
      • quinsy
    • Hemorrhage, hemorrhagic(concealed)
      • peritonsillar tissue
        • due to infection
    • Peritonsillitis
    • Quinsy(gangrenous)

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR RSP004
Acute and chronic tonsillitis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Peritonsillar Abscess

    an accumulation of purulent material in the area between the palatine tonsil and its capsule.

  • Palatine Tonsil

    a round-to-oval mass of lymphoid tissue embedded in the lateral wall of the pharynx. there is one on each side of the oropharynx in the fauces between the anterior and posterior pillars of the soft palate.

Patient EducationClinical

Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert J36 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
475 Peritonsillar abscess
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About J36Overview

Is J36 (Peritonsillar abscess) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report peritonsillar abscess on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does J36 group to?

When peritonsillar abscess is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 152, 153, with relative weights from 0.7382 to 1.1822 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J36?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, peritonsillar abscess converts to ICD-9-CM 475 (peritonsillar abscess). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.