2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J85Abscess of lung and mediastinum

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J85-J86›J85

ICD-10-CM J85
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

J85 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for abscess of lung and mediastinum, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as J85.0, J85.1, J85.2, and J85.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J85
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Abscess of lung and mediastinum
Short Description
Abscess of lung and mediastinum
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
J85-J86
Suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ85-J86Suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract
CategoryJ85Abscess of lung and mediastinum
This CodeJ85Abscess of lung and mediastinum

Specific Coding for Abscess of lung and mediastinumOverview

Non-specific codes like J85 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use J85.0 for Gangrene and necrosis of lung

  • Use J85.1 for Abscess of lung with pneumonia

  • Use J85.2 for Abscess of lung without pneumonia

  • Use J85.3 for Abscess of mediastinum

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to J85: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 10. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
  • congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
  • endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • smoke inhalation (T59.81-)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Use Additional Code

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

On J85 itself
  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • code, where applicable, to identify:
  • exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z77.22)
  • exposure to tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
  • history of tobacco dependence (Z87.891)
  • occupational exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (Z57.31)
  • tobacco dependence (F17.-)
  • tobacco use (Z72.0)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 10 (J00-J99) Diseases of the respiratory system applies to 366 codes
  • When a respiratory condition is described as occurring in more than one site and is not specifically indexed, it should be classified to the lower anatomic site (e.g. tracheobronchitis to bronchitis in J40).

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name J85, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming J85: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and J85 is one of the conditions named.

  • I76 Septic arterial embolism
    lung abscess (J85.-)

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.

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 J85Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for abscess of lung and mediastinum?

J85 is the ICD-10-CM category for abscess of lung and mediastinum, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is J85 (Abscess of lung and mediastinum) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for abscess of lung and mediastinum, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for abscess of lung and mediastinum need a more specific code from this category, such as J85.0, J85.1, and J85.2.

Does J85 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.. The additional code is reported after J85.