2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J39.2Other diseases of pharynx
ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J30-J39›J39
- Billable — Valid for Submission
- Not Chronic
J39.2 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other diseases of pharynx. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified upper respiratory disease.
Code Identity
Code Classification
Approximate SynonymsGuidance
Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.
- Acquired incomplete closure of velopharyngeal apparatus due to anatomical abnormality
- Acquired velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Bleeding of pharynx
- Borderline acquired velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Borderline incomplete closure of velopharyngeal apparatus due to anatomical abnormality
- Borderline velopharyngeal adequacy
- Borderline velopharyngeal dysfunction
- Congestion of throat
- Constriction in throat
- Cricopharyngeal bar
- Cricopharyngeal disorder
- Cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction
- Cyst of nasopharynx
- Cyst of pharynx
- Discharge of pharynx
- Disorder of hypopharynx
- Disorder of oropharynx
- Disorder of pharynx
- Disorder of upper esophageal sphincter
- Ear, nose and throat disorder
- Edema of nasopharynx
- Edema of pharynx
- Finding of appearance of pharynx
- Finding of sensation of pharynx
- Hematoma of pharynx
- Hyperactive pharyngeal gag reflex
- Hyperemia of pharynx
- Hypoactive gag reflex
- Iatrogenic perforation of pharynx
- Incomplete closure of velopharyngeal apparatus due to anatomical abnormality
- Incoordination
- Lesion of hypopharynx
- Lesion of pharynx
- Lymphoid follicles on posterior wall of pharynx
- Mass of pharynx
- Muscular incoordination
- Narrow pharyngeal airway
- Obstruction of pharynx caused by food
- Obstruction of pharynx caused by foreign body
- Oropharyngeal lesion
- Palatopharyngeal incoordination
- Perforation of pharyngeal diverticulum
- Perforation of pharynx
- Pharyngeal dryness
- Pharyngeal gag reflex finding
- Pharyngeal hemorrhage
- Pharyngeal paralysis
- Pharyngeal paresis
- Pharyngeal spasm
- Pharyngeal stenosis
- Pharyngocutaneous fistula
- Pharynx or nasopharynx edema
- Pharynx problem
- Retropharyngeal tendinitis
- Spasm of the cricopharyngeus muscle
- Stenosis of velopharynx
- Traumatic stenosis of pharynx
- Ulcer of pharynx
- Velopharyngeal dysfunction
Tabular List NotesGuidance
Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.
Inclusion Terms
- Cyst of pharynx
- Edema of pharynx
Type 2 Excludes
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance
Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.
- pharynx - J39.2
- Thornwaldt, Tornwaldt - J39.2
- Cicatrix (adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious) - See Also: Scar; - L90.5
- hypopharynx - J39.2
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- throat - J39.2
- Cyst (colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- pharyngeal - J39.2
- hypopharynx - J39.2
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx (wall) - J39.2
- Thornwaldt's - J39.2
- Tornwaldt's - J39.2
- pharynx (congenital) - Q38.8
- acquired - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- Disease, diseased - See Also: Syndrome;
- pharynx - J39.2
- specified NEC - J39.2
- throat - J39.2
- Dry, dryness - See Also: condition;
- throat - J39.2
- Edema, edematous (infectious) (pitting) (toxic) - R60.9
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharyngoesophageal - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- Gangrene, gangrenous (connective tissue) (dropsical) (dry) (moist) (skin) (ulcer) - See Also: Necrosis; - I96
- retropharyngeal - J39.2
- Hyperesthesia (body surface) - R20.3
- pharynx (reflex) - J39.2
- pharynx (lymphoid) - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- Pain (s) - See Also: Painful; - R52
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- Perforation, perforated (nontraumatic) (of)
- pharynx - J39.2
- Pharyngoplegia - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- hyperactive gag - J39.2
- Spasm (s), spastic, spasticity - See Also: condition; - R25.2
- pharynx (reflex) - J39.2
- throat - J39.2
- Stricture - See Also: Stenosis;
- hypopharynx - J39.2
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- Tornwaldt's cyst or disease - J39.2
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
- fauces - J39.2
- hypopharynx - J39.2
- nasopharynx - J39.2
- pharynx - J39.2
- throat - J39.2
External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance
References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.
- Atrophy, atrophic(of)
- pharynx
- Bursitis
- Thornwaldt, Tornwaldt
- Cicatrix(adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious)
- hypopharynx
- Cicatrix(adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious)
- nasopharynx
- Cicatrix(adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious)
- pharynx
- Cicatrix(adherent) (contracted) (painful) (vicious)
- throat
- Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- bursa, bursal NEC
- pharyngeal
- Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- hypopharynx
- Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- nasopharynx
- Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- pharynx (wall)
- Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- Thornwaldt's
- Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
- Tornwaldt's
- Deformity
- pharynx (congenital)
- acquired
- Dilatation
- pharynx
- Disease, diseased
- pharynx
- Disease, diseased
- pharynx
- specified NEC
- Disease, diseased
- throat
- Dry, dryness
- throat
- Edema, edematous(infectious) (pitting) (toxic)
- nasopharynx
- Edema, edematous(infectious) (pitting) (toxic)
- pharynx
- Fistula(cutaneous)
- nasopharynx
- Fistula(cutaneous)
- pharyngoesophageal
- Fistula(cutaneous)
- pharynx
- Gangrene, gangrenous(connective tissue) (dropsical) (dry) (moist) (skin) (ulcer)
- retropharyngeal
- Hyperesthesia(body surface)
- pharynx (reflex)
- Hyperplasia, hyperplastic
- pharynx (lymphoid)
- Hypertrophy, hypertrophic
- pharynx
- Irritation
- pharynx
- Keratosis
- pharynx
- Lesion(s) (nontraumatic)
- pharynx
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- nasopharynx
- Obstruction, obstructed, obstructive
- pharynx
- Pain(s)
- nasopharynx
- Pain(s)
- pharynx
- Paralysis, paralytic(complete) (incomplete)
- fauces
- Paralysis, paralytic(complete) (incomplete)
- pharynx
- Paralysis, paralytic(complete) (incomplete)
- throat
- Paralysis, paralytic(complete) (incomplete)
- throat
- muscle
- Perforation, perforated(nontraumatic) (of)
- pharynx
- Pharyngoplegia
- Polyp, polypus
- pharynx
- Reflex
- hyperactive gag
- Spasm(s), spastic, spasticity
- pharynx (reflex)
- Spasm(s), spastic, spasticity
- throat
- Stricture
- hypopharynx
- Stricture
- nasopharynx
- Stricture
- pharynx
- Tornwaldt's cyst or disease
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
- fauces
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
- hypopharynx
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
- nasopharynx
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
- pharynx
- Ulcer, ulcerated, ulcerating, ulceration, ulcerative
- throat
Clinical ClassificationClinical
AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.
Clinical InformationClinical
Pharyngocutaneous Fistula
an abnormal communication between the skin and the pharynx.
Patient EducationClinical
Throat Disorders
Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx. The technical name for your throat is the pharynx.
Read the full article at MedlinePlus
Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Convert J39.2 to ICD-9-CMHistory
The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.
Code HistoryHistory
Questions About J39.2Overview
Is J39.2 (Other diseases of upper respiratory tract) a billable code?
Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other diseases of pharynx on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
What MS-DRG does J39.2 group to?
When other diseases of pharynx is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.
What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J39.2?
Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other diseases of pharynx converts to ICD-9-CM 478.25 (edema pharynx/nasopharyx), 478.26 (cyst pharynx/nasopharynx), and 478.29 (disease of pharynx NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.
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.
