2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J94.0Chylous effusion

ICD-10-CM Codes›J00–J99›J90-J94›J94

ICD-10-CM J94.0
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

J94.0 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for chylous effusion. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 186 through 188. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Pleurisy, pleural effusion and pulmonary collapse.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
J94.0
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Chylous effusion
Short Description
Chylous effusion
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
J94
Other pleural conditions

Code Classification

ChapterJ00–J99Diseases of the respiratory system
SectionJ90-J94Other diseases of the pleura
CategoryJ94Other pleural conditions
This CodeJ94.0Chylous effusion

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acquired chylothorax
  • Chylothorax
  • Malignant chylothorax
  • Pleural effusion caused by bacteria
  • Pleural effusion due to another disorder
  • Pleural effusion due to malignant neoplastic disease
  • Pleural effusion due to neoplastic disease
  • Traumatic chylothorax
  • Tuberculous chylothorax
  • Tuberculous pleural effusion

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Chyliform effusion

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.

    • Chylothorax(nonfilarial)
    • Effusion
      • chylous, chyliform (pleura)
    • Effusion
      • pleura, pleurisy, pleuritic, pleuropericardial
        • chylous, chyliform
    • Pleurisy(acute) (adhesive) (chronic) (costal) (diaphragmatic) (double) (dry) (fibrinous) (fibrous) (interlobar) (latent) (plastic) (primary) (residual) (sicca) (sterile) (subacute) (unresolved)
      • with
        • effusion
          • chylous, chyliform

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

  • Chylothorax

    the presence of chyle in the thoracic cavity. (dorland, 27th ed)

  • Acquired Chylothorax

    chylothorax that results from malignancies (usually lymphoma), trauma to the thoracic duct, tuberculosis, or sarcoidosis.

  • Traumatic Chylothorax

    accumulation of lymph fluid in the pleural cavity as a result of thoracic trauma.

  • Chylothorax

    an accumulation of chyle in the pleural cavity.

  • Chylothorax, CTCAE|Chylothorax|Chylothorax|Chylothorax

    a disorder characterized by milky pleural effusion (abnormal collection of fluid) resulting from accumulation of lymph fluid in the pleural cavity.

  • Chylothorax|Chylous Pleural Effusion

    a milky pleural effusion resulting from accumulation of lymph fluid in the pleural cavity. causes include malignancies (usually lymphoma), trauma to the thoracic duct, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, and congenital causes.

  • Congenital Chylothorax

    chylothorax that is present at birth.

  • Grade 1 Chylothorax, CTCAE|Grade 1 Chylothorax|Grade 1 Chylothorax

    asymptomatic; clinical or diagnostic observations only; intervention not indicated

  • Grade 2 Chylothorax, CTCAE|Grade 2 Chylothorax|Grade 2 Chylothorax

    symptomatic; medical intervention indicated (e.g., fat-restricted diet); thoracentesis or tube drainage indicated

  • Grade 3 Chylothorax, CTCAE|Grade 3 Chylothorax|Grade 3 Chylothorax

    severe symptoms; elective operative intervention indicated

  • Grade 4 Chylothorax, CTCAE|Grade 4 Chylothorax|Grade 4 Chylothorax

    life-threatening respiratory or hemodynamic compromise; intubation or urgent intervention indicated

  • Grade 5 Chylothorax, CTCAE|Grade 5 Chylothorax|Grade 5 Chylothorax

    death

Patient EducationClinical

Pleural Disorders

Your pleura is a large, thin sheet of tissue that wraps around the outside of your lungs and lines the inside of your chest cavity. Between the layers of the pleura is a very thin space. Normally it's filled with a small amount of fluid.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert J94.0 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
511.89 Effusion NEC exc 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 J94.0Overview

Is J94.0 (Other pleural conditions) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does J94.0 group to?

When chylous effusion is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 186, 187, 188, with relative weights from 0.7172 to 1.5585 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of J94.0?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, chylous effusion converts to ICD-9-CM 511.89 (effusion NEC exc 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.