2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code M79Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified

ICD-10-CM Codes›M00–M99›M70-M79›M79

ICD-10-CM M79
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

M79 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as M79.0, M79.10, M79.11, and M79.12.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
M79
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified
Short Description
Oth and unsp soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified
Chapter
M70-M79
Other soft tissue disorders

Code Classification

ChapterM00–M99Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue
SectionM70-M79Other soft tissue disorders
CategoryM79Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified
This CodeM79Other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified

Specific Coding for Oth and unsp soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classifiedOverview

Non-specific codes like M79 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • Use M79.0 for Rheumatism, unspecified

  • M79.1 for Myalgia

  • Use M79.10 for Myalgia, unspecified site

  • Use M79.11 for Myalgia of mastication muscle

  • Use M79.12 for Myalgia of auxiliary muscles, head and neck

  • Use M79.18 for Myalgia, other site

  • Use M79.2 for Neuralgia and neuritis, unspecified

  • Use M79.3 for Panniculitis, unspecified

  • Use M79.4 for Hypertrophy of (infrapatellar) fat pad

  • Use M79.5 for Residual foreign body in soft tissue

  • M79.6 for Pain in limb, hand, foot, fingers and toes

  • M79.60 for Pain in limb, unspecified

  • M79.62 for Pain in upper arm

  • M79.63 for Pain in forearm

  • M79.64 for Pain in hand and fingers

  • M79.65 for Pain in thigh

  • M79.66 for Pain in lower leg

  • M79.67 for Pain in foot and toes

  • Use M79.7 for Fibromyalgia

  • M79.8 for Other specified soft tissue disorders

  • Use M79.81 for Nontraumatic hematoma of soft tissue

  • Use M79.89 for Other specified soft tissue disorders

  • Use M79.9 for Soft tissue disorder, unspecified

  • M79.A for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome

  • M79.A1 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of upper extremity

  • M79.A2 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of lower extremity

  • Use M79.A3 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of abdomen

  • Use M79.A9 for Nontraumatic compartment syndrome of other sites

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to M79: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 13. 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.

  • psychogenic rheumatism (F45.8)
  • soft tissue pain, psychogenic (F45.41)

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.

Patient EducationClinical

Connective Tissue Disorders

Your connective tissue supports many different parts of your body, such as your skin, eyes, and heart. It is like a "cellular glue" that gives your body parts their shape and helps keep them strong. It also helps some of your tissues do their work. It is made of many kinds of proteins. Cartilage and fat are types of connective tissue.

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 M79Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified?

M79 is the ICD-10-CM category for other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is M79 a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for other and unspecified soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified need a more specific code from this category, such as M79.0, M79.10, and M79.11.

Can M79 be reported with F45.8?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note on M79 lists "psychogenic rheumatism (F45.8)". 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).