2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K26Duodenal ulcer

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K20-K31›K26

ICD-10-CM K26
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K26 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for duodenal ulcer, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as K26.0, K26.1, K26.2, and K26.3.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K26
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Duodenal ulcer
Short Description
Duodenal ulcer
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
CategoryK26Duodenal ulcer
This CodeK26Duodenal ulcer

Specific Coding for Duodenal ulcerOverview

Non-specific codes like K26 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use K26.0 for Acute duodenal ulcer with hemorrhage

  • Use K26.1 for Acute duodenal ulcer with perforation

  • Use K26.2 for Acute duodenal ulcer with both hemorrhage and perforation

  • Use K26.3 for Acute duodenal ulcer without hemorrhage or perforation

  • Use K26.4 for Chronic or unspecified duodenal ulcer with hemorrhage

  • Use K26.5 for Chronic or unspecified duodenal ulcer with perforation

  • Use K26.6 for Chronic or unspecified duodenal ulcer with both hemorrhage and perforation

  • Use K26.7 for Chronic duodenal ulcer without hemorrhage or perforation

  • Use K26.9 for Duodenal ulcer, unspecified as acute or chronic, without hemorrhage or perforation

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K26: 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.

Includes

Further defines, or gives examples of, the content of the category.

  • erosion (acute) of duodenum
  • duodenum ulcer (peptic)
  • postpyloric ulcer (peptic)

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)

Use Additional Code

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

  • code to identify:
  • alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-)

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K26, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K26: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • K63.1 Perforation of intestine (nontraumatic)
    perforation (nontraumatic) of duodenum (K26.-)
  • K63.3 Ulcer of intestine
    duodenal ulcer (K26.-)
  • K92.2 Gastrointestinal hemorrhage, unspecified
    peptic ulcer with hemorrhage (K25-K28) names K25-K28, which includes this code

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Duodenal Ulcer

    a peptic ulcer located in the duodenum.

Patient EducationClinical

Peptic Ulcer

A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or your duodenum, the first part of your small intestine. A burning stomach pain is the most common symptom. The pain:

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 K26Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for duodenal ulcer?

K26 is the ICD-10-CM category for duodenal ulcer, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is K26 (Duodenal ulcer) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for duodenal ulcer, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for duodenal ulcer need a more specific code from this category, such as K26.0, K26.1, and K26.2.

Can K26 be reported with a code from K27?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on K26 lists "peptic ulcer NOS (K27.-)". 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).

Does K26 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code to identify: alcohol abuse and dependence (F10.-). The additional code is reported after K26.