2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K14.4Atrophy of tongue papillae

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K00-K14›K14

ICD-10-CM K14.4
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

K14.4 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for atrophy of tongue papillae. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 157 through 159. Coders also document this condition as atrophy of tongue. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Any dental condition including traumatic injury, Diseases of mouth; excluding dental, and Nontraumatic dental conditions.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K14.4
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Atrophy of tongue papillae
Short Description
Atrophy of tongue papillae
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
K14
Diseases of tongue

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK00-K14Diseases of oral cavity and salivary glands
CategoryK14Diseases of tongue
This CodeK14.4Atrophy of tongue papillae

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Atrophy of tongue
  • Atrophy of tongue papillae
  • Central papillary atrophy of tongue
  • Luetic glossitis

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Atrophic glossitis

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.

    • Atrophy, atrophic(of)
      • tongue (senile)
        • papillae
    • Bald tongue
    • Glazed tongue
    • Glossitis(chronic superficial) (gangrenous) (Moeller's)
      • atrophic
    • Glossodynia
      • exfoliativa
    • Papillitis
      • chronic lingual

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR DEN001
Any dental condition including traumatic injury
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No
CCSR DIG003
Diseases of mouth; excluding dental
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes
CCSR DEN002
Nontraumatic dental conditions
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Patient EducationClinical

Tongue Disorders

Your tongue helps you taste, swallow, and chew. You also use it to speak. Your tongue is made up of many muscles. The upper surface contains your taste buds.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert K14.4 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
529.4 Atrophy tongue papillae
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 K14.4Overview

Is K14.4 (Diseases of tongue) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does K14.4 group to?

When atrophy of tongue papillae is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 157, 158, 159, with relative weights from 0.7085 to 1.7168 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of K14.4?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, atrophy of tongue papillae converts to ICD-9-CM 529.4 (atrophy tongue papillae). The mapping is a direct match.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.