2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K81Cholecystitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›K00–K95›K80-K87›K81

ICD-10-CM K81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

K81 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for cholecystitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as K81.0, K81.1, K81.2, and K81.9.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
K81
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Cholecystitis
Short Description
Cholecystitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
K80-K87
Disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas

Code Classification

ChapterK00–K95Diseases of the digestive system
SectionK80-K87Disorders of gallbladder, biliary tract and pancreas
CategoryK81Cholecystitis
This CodeK81Cholecystitis

Specific Coding for CholecystitisOverview

Non-specific codes like K81 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use K81.0 for Acute cholecystitis

  • Use K81.1 for Chronic cholecystitis

  • Use K81.2 for Acute cholecystitis with chronic cholecystitis

  • Use K81.9 for Cholecystitis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to K81: its own notes plus those printed at 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.

  • cholecystitis with cholelithiasis (K80.-)

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 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 if applicable for associated gangrene of gallbladder (K82.A1), or perforation of gallbladder (K82.A2)

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name K81, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming K81: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • K82.4 Cholesterolosis of gallbladder
    cholesterolosis of gallbladder with cholecystitis (K81.-)

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming K81: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • K83 Other diseases of biliary tract
    conditions involving the gallbladder (K81-K82)
  • K83 Other diseases of biliary tract
    conditions involving the cystic duct (K81-K82)

Code First 1

These codes say to code first a condition named in the note, and K81 is one of the conditions named.

  • K82.A Disorders of gallbladder in diseases classified elsewhere
    the type of cholecystitis (K81.-), or cholelithiasis with cholecystitis (K80.00-K80.19, K80.40-K80.47, K80.60-K80.67)

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Cholecystitis

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

Patient EducationClinical

Gallbladder Diseases

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver. It stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As your stomach and intestines digest food, your gallbladder releases bile through a tube called the common bile duct. The duct connects your gallbladder and liver to your small intestine.

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 K81Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for cholecystitis?

K81 is the ICD-10-CM category for cholecystitis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is K81 (Cholecystitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for cholecystitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for cholecystitis need a more specific code from this category, such as K81.0, K81.1, and K81.2.

Can K81 be reported with a code from K80?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on K81 lists "cholecystitis with cholelithiasis (K80.-)". 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 K81 need an additional code?

When the condition applies, yes. The Use Additional Code note reads: code if applicable for associated gangrene of gallbladder (K82.A1), or perforation of gallbladder (K82.A2). The additional code is reported after K81.