2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q17.8Other specified congenital malformations of ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q10-Q18›Q17

ICD-10-CM Q17.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q17.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other specified congenital malformations of ear. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 154 through 156. The code is exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q17.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other specified congenital malformations of ear
Short Description
Other specified congenital malformations of ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q17
Other congenital malformations of ear

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ10-Q18Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face and neck
CategoryQ17Other congenital malformations of ear
This CodeQ17.8Other specified congenital malformations of ear

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q17.8 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Auricular abnormality, cleft lip, ocular abnormality syndrome
  • Bilateral congenital malformation of external ears
  • Bilateral congenital split ear lobes
  • Cat ear
  • Congenital abnormal shape of pinna
  • Congenital abnormality of Eustachian tube
  • Congenital absence of ear lobe
  • Congenital absence of external auditory canal
  • Congenital absence of external ear
  • Congenital adhesion of helix
  • Congenital anomaly of internal auditory canal
  • Congenital anomaly of lobe of ear
  • Congenital deformity of helix
  • Congenital deformity of pinna
  • Congenital malformation of helix
  • Congenital malposition of pinna
  • Congenital short ear
  • Congenital split ear lobe
  • Congenital split left ear lobe
  • Congenital split right ear lobe
  • Congenital stenosis of eustachian tube
  • Cryptotia
  • Darwin's tubercle
  • Double auditory canal
  • Ear auricle and external auditory canal absent
  • Hypoplasia of auditory canal
  • Intellectual disability, cataract, calcified pinna, myopathy syndrome
  • Mehes syndrome
  • Microtia
  • Misplaced ear
  • Pinnal calcification
  • Simple ear
  • Speech delay
  • Stenosis of eustachian tube
  • Thickened earlobe with conductive deafness syndrome
  • Vascular disorder of inner ear
  • Vascular loops of inner ear
  • Vascular malformation of inner ear
  • X-linked external auditory canal atresia, dilated internal auditory canal, facial dysmorphism syndrome

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Congenital absence of lobe of ear

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Abnormal, abnormality, abnormalities
      • course, eustachian tube
    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • ear, congenital
        • lobe, lobule
    • Agenesis
      • ear
        • lobe
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • auditory canal
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • auricle
        • ear
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • eustachian tube
    • Atresia, atretic
      • eustachian tube
    • Darwin's tubercle
    • Deformity
      • eustachian tube (congenital) NEC
    • Dilatation
      • eustachian tube, congenital
    • Distortion(s) (congenital)
      • eustachian tube
    • Double
      • auditory canal
    • Fissure, fissured
      • ear, lobule, congenital
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • auditory canal
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • eustachian tube
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • osseous meatus (ear)
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • external
          • specified type NEC
    • Malformation(congenital)
      • ear
        • specified type NEC
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • auditory canal
    • Malposition
      • congenital
        • eustachian tube
    • Stricture
      • eustachian tube
        • congenital
    • Tubercle
      • Darwin's

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL005
Congenital malformations of eye, ear, face, neck
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Birth Defects

A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother's body. Most birth defects happen during the first 3 months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.

The full article covers:

  • What are birth defects?
  • What causes birth defects?
  • Who is at risk of having a baby with birth defects?
  • How are birth defects diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for birth defects?
  • Can birth defects be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Q17.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
744.21 Cong absence of ear lobe
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
744.29 Ear anomalies NEC
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 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About Q17.8Overview

Is Q17.8 (Other congenital malformations of ear) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other specified congenital malformations of ear on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does Q17.8 group to?

When other specified congenital malformations of ear is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 154, 155, 156, with relative weights from 0.6911 to 1.5635 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is Q17.8 exempt from POA reporting?

Yes. CMS lists this code among those exempt from present on admission reporting, so hospitals do not assign a POA indicator for other specified congenital malformations of ear on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q17.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other specified congenital malformations of ear converts to ICD-9-CM 744.21 (cong absence of ear lobe) and 744.29 (ear anomalies NEC). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.