2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K23Disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K20-K31›K23

ICD-10-CM K23
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K23 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 391 through 392. The code is a manifestation code that cannot be reported as the principal diagnosis. Coders also document this condition as compression of esophagus. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Esophageal disorders.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K23
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere
Short Description
Disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
K20-K31
Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK20-K31Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum
CategoryK23Disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere
This CodeK23Disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for K23.

Manifestation diagnoses
Manifestation codes describe the manifestation of an underlying disease, not the disease itself, and therefore should not be used as a principal diagnosis.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Compression of esophagus
  • Ectopic artery
  • Vascular compression of esophagus by aberrant artery
  • Vascular compression of esophagus by aberrant right subclavian artery arising from descending aorta

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K23: its own notes plus those printed at block K20-K31 and Chapter 11. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

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 Block K20-K31 Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum applies to 106 codes
From Chapter 11 (K00-K95) Diseases of the digestive system applies to 863 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)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Code First

The underlying condition named in the note is sequenced before this code.

  • underlying disease, such as:
  • congenital syphilis (A50.5)

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

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR DIG004
Esophageal disorders
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient No

Patient EducationClinical

Esophagus Disorders

Esophagus disorders are problems with how your esophagus works. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. You usually don't notice it unless you swallow something too big, hot, or cold. You might also notice it if something is wrong.

The full article covers:

  • What are esophagus disorders?
  • What causes esophagus disorders?
  • What are common esophagus disorders?
  • What are symptoms of esophagus disorders?
  • How are esophagus disorders diagnosed?
  • How are esophagus disorders treated?
  • Can esophagus disorders be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert K23 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
530.89 Other dsrders esophagus
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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About K23Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere?

The ICD-10-CM code for disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere is K23. It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is K23 (Disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does K23 group to?

On inpatient claims, disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere maps to MS-DRG 392, 391, with relative weights from 0.7645 to 1.2389 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can K23 be a principal diagnosis?

No. This is a manifestation code: disorders of esophagus in diseases classified elsewhere describes the manifestation of an underlying disease rather than the disease itself, so the underlying condition is sequenced first.

Can K23 be reported with A52.79?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on K23 lists "late syphilis (A52.79)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).