2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M50Cervical disc disorders

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M50-M54›M50

ICD-10-CM M50
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M50 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for cervical disc disorders, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M50.00, M50.01, M50.020, and M50.021.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M50
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Cervical disc disorders
Short Description
Cervical disc disorders
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
M50-M54
Other dorsopathies

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM50-M54Other dorsopathies
CategoryM50Cervical disc disorders
This CodeM50Cervical disc disorders

Specific Coding for Cervical disc disordersOverview

Non-specific codes like M50 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • M50.0 for Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy

  • Use M50.00 for Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, unspecified cervical region

  • Use M50.01 for Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, high cervical region

  • M50.02 for Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, mid-cervical region

  • Use M50.03 for Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy, cervicothoracic region

  • M50.1 for Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy

  • Use M50.10 for Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, unspecified cervical region

  • Use M50.11 for Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, high cervical region

  • M50.12 for Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, mid-cervical region

  • Use M50.13 for Cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy, cervicothoracic region

  • M50.2 for Other cervical disc displacement

  • Use M50.20 for Other cervical disc displacement, unspecified cervical region

  • Use M50.21 for Other cervical disc displacement, high cervical region

  • M50.22 for Other cervical disc displacement, mid-cervical region

  • Use M50.23 for Other cervical disc displacement, cervicothoracic region

  • M50.3 for Other cervical disc degeneration

  • Use M50.30 for Other cervical disc degeneration, unspecified cervical region

  • Use M50.31 for Other cervical disc degeneration, high cervical region

  • M50.32 for Other cervical disc degeneration, mid-cervical region

  • Use M50.33 for Other cervical disc degeneration, cervicothoracic region

  • M50.8 for Other cervical disc disorders

  • Use M50.80 for Other cervical disc disorders, unspecified cervical region

  • Use M50.81 for Other cervical disc disorders, high cervical region

  • M50.82 for Other cervical disc disorders, mid-cervical region

  • Use M50.83 for Other cervical disc disorders, cervicothoracic region

  • M50.9 for Cervical disc disorder, unspecified

  • Use M50.90 for Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, unspecified cervical region

  • Use M50.91 for Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, high cervical region

  • M50.92 for Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, mid-cervical region

  • Use M50.93 for Cervical disc disorder, unspecified, cervicothoracic region

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M50: its own notes plus those printed at block M50-M54 and Chapter 13. 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.

  • cervicothoracic disc disorders with cervicalgia
  • cervicothoracic disc disorders

Excludes1

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

From Block M50-M54 Other dorsopathies applies to 133 codes
  • current injury - see injury of spine by body region
  • discitis NOS (M46.4-)

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 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • arthropathic psoriasis (L40.5-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
  • compartment syndrome (traumatic) (T79.A-)
  • 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)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 13 (M00-M99) Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue applies to 6,687 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the musculoskeletal condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the musculoskeletal condition

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name M50, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 3

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming M50: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • G54 Nerve root and plexus disorders
    intervertebral disc disorders (M50-M51)
  • M54.2 Cervicalgia
    cervicalgia due to intervertebral cervical disc disorder (M50.-)
  • S13.0 Traumatic rupture of cervical intervertebral disc
    rupture or displacement (nontraumatic) of cervical intervertebral disc NOS (M50.-)

Excludes2 2

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming M50: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • M51 Thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbosacral intervertebral disc disorders
    cervical and cervicothoracic disc disorders (M50.-)
  • M53.1 Cervicobrachial syndrome
    cervical disc disorder (M50.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Neck Injuries and Disorders

Any part of your neck - muscles, bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or nerves - can cause neck problems. Neck pain is very common. Pain may also come from your shoulder, jaw, head, or upper arms.

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 M50Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for cervical disc disorders?

M50 is the ICD-10-CM category for cervical disc disorders, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M50 (Cervical disc disorders) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for cervical disc disorders, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for cervical disc disorders need a more specific code from this category, such as M50.00, M50.01, and M50.020.

Can M50 be reported with a code from M46.4?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block M50-M54, which applies to M50, lists "discitis NOS (M46.4-)". 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).