2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J86.9Pyothorax without fistula

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J85-J86›J86

ICD-10-CM J86.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J86.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pyothorax without fistula. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 177 through 179. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Pleurisy, pleural effusion and pulmonary collapse.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J86.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Pyothorax without fistula
Short Description
Pyothorax without fistula
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J86
Pyothorax

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ85-J86Suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract
CategoryJ86Pyothorax
This CodeJ86.9Pyothorax without fistula

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Abscess of pleural cavity
  • Abscess of thorax
  • Bacterial pleurisy
  • Bacterial pleurisy with effusion
  • Empyema
  • Empyema of pleura
  • Fibrinopurulent pleurisy
  • Fibrinous pleurisy
  • Loculated empyema
  • Pleurisy with effusion
  • Pneumococcal pleurisy
  • Pneumococcal pleurisy with effusion
  • Pyopneumothorax
  • Pyopneumothorax following infection by Coccidioides
  • Septic pleurisy
  • Seropurulent pleurisy
  • Staphylococcal pleurisy
  • Staphylococcal pleurisy with effusion
  • Streptococcal pleurisy
  • Streptococcal pleurisy with effusion

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Abscess of pleura
  • Abscess of thorax
  • Empyema (chest) (lung) (pleura)
  • Fibrinopurulent pleurisy
  • Purulent pleurisy
  • Pyopneumothorax
  • Septic pleurisy
  • Seropurulent pleurisy
  • Suppurative pleurisy

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)
      • chest
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • peripleuritic
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • pleura
    • Abscess(connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
      • thorax
    • Empyema(acute) (chest) (double) (pleura) (supradiaphragmatic) (thorax)
    • Pleurisy(acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
      • staphylococcal
    • Pyopneumothorax(infective)
    • Pyothorax

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR RSP011
Pleurisy, pleural effusion and pulmonary collapse
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Cholecystitis

    inflammation of the gallbladder; generally caused by impairment of bile flow, gallstones in the biliary tract, infections, or other diseases.

  • Empyema

    presence of pus in a hollow organ or body cavity.

  • Empyema, Pleural

    suppurative inflammation of the pleural space.

  • Empyema, Subdural

    an intracranial or rarely intraspinal suppurative process invading the space between the inner surface of the dura mater and the outer surface of the arachnoid.

  • Empyema, Tuberculous

    empyema due to mycobacterium tuberculosis.

  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis

    a species of gram-positive, aerobic bacteria that produces tuberculosis in humans, other primates, cattle; dogs; and some other animals which have contact with humans. growth tends to be in serpentine, cordlike masses in which the bacilli show a parallel orientation.

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 J86.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
510.9 Empyema w/o fistula
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
511.0 Pleurisy w/o effus or TB
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About J86.9Overview

Is J86.9 (Pyothorax) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report pyothorax without fistula on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does J86.9 group to?

When pyothorax without fistula is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 177, 178, 179, with relative weights from 0.7550 to 1.5627 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J86.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, pyothorax without fistula converts to ICD-9-CM 510.9 (empyema w/o fistula) and 511.0 (pleurisy w/o effus or TB). 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.