2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Q38.4Congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts

ICD-10-CM Codes›Q00-Q99›Q38-Q45›Q38

ICD-10-CM Q38.4
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Q38.4 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts. 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 Digestive congenital anomalies.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Q38.4
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts
Short Description
Congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Q38
Other congenital malformations of tongue, mouth and pharynx

Code Classification

ChapterQ00-Q99Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities
SectionQ38-Q45Other congenital malformations of the digestive system
CategoryQ38Other congenital malformations of tongue, mouth and pharynx
This CodeQ38.4Congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Q38.4 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.

  • Accessory parotid gland
  • Accessory salivary duct
  • Accessory salivary gland
  • Accessory salivary gland or duct
  • Aplasia of lacrimal and salivary gland
  • Aplasia of parotid gland
  • Atresia of salivary duct
  • Congenital abnormality of salivary duct
  • Congenital absence of salivary gland
  • Congenital anomaly of lacrimal gland
  • Congenital anomaly of salivary gland
  • Congenital anomaly of tongue, salivary gland AND/OR pharynx
  • Congenital aplasia of lacrimal structure
  • Congenital malformation of salivary glands and ducts
  • Congenital ranula
  • Congenital salivary gland fistula
  • Displacement of Wharton's duct
  • Ectopic parotid gland tissue
  • Fistula of salivary gland
  • Oral fistula
  • Ranula
  • Salivary gland heterotopia

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Atresia of salivary glands and ducts
  • Congenital absence of salivary glands and ducts
  • Congenital accessory salivary glands and ducts
  • Congenital fistula of salivary gland

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.

    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • salivary gland (s), congenital
    • Accessory(congenital)
      • parotid gland (and duct)
    • Accessory(congenital)
      • salivary gland
    • Accessory(congenital)
      • submaxillary gland
    • Agenesis
      • parotid gland (s)
    • Agenesis
      • salivary gland
    • Agenesis
      • submaxillary gland (s) (congenital)
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • Bartholin's duct
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • parotid (gland)
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • salivary duct or gland
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • stenonian duct
    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • submaxillary gland
    • Atresia, atretic
      • parotid duct
    • Atresia, atretic
      • salivary duct
    • Atresia, atretic
      • sublingual duct
    • Atresia, atretic
      • submandibular duct
    • Atresia, atretic
      • submaxillary duct
    • Calculus, calculi, calculous
      • sublingual duct or gland
        • congenital
    • Cyst(colloid) (mucous) (simple) (retention)
      • congenital NEC
        • salivary gland (any)
    • Deformity
      • parotid (gland) (congenital)
    • Deformity
      • salivary gland or duct (congenital)
    • Deformity
      • submandibular gland (congenital)
    • Deformity
      • submaxillary gland (congenital)
    • Displacement, displaced
      • opening of Wharton's duct in mouth
    • Displacement, displaced
      • parotid gland (congenital)
    • Displacement, displaced
      • salivary gland (any) (congenital)
    • Displacement, displaced
      • sublingual duct
    • Duplication, duplex
      • salivary duct
    • Fistula(cutaneous)
      • salivary duct or gland (any)
        • congenital
    • Fusion, fused(congenital)
      • sublingual duct with submaxillary duct at opening in mouth
    • Hypertrophy, hypertrophic
      • salivary gland (any)
        • congenital
    • Hypoplasia, hypoplastic
      • parotid gland
    • Ranula
      • congenital

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR MAL002
Digestive congenital anomalies
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Ranula

    a form of retention cyst of the floor of the mouth, usually due to obstruction of the ducts of the submaxillary or sublingual glands, presenting a slowly enlarging painless deep burrowing mucocele of one side of the mouth. it is also called sublingual cyst and sublingual ptyalocele.

  • Oral Fistula

    an abnormal passage within the mouth communicating between two or more anatomical structures.

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 Q38.4 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
750.21 Salivary gland absence
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
750.22 Accessory salivary gland
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
750.23 Cong atresia, saliv duct
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.
ICD-9-CM
750.24 Cong salivary fistula
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 Q38.4Overview

Is Q38.4 (Other congenital malformations of tongue, mouth and pharynx) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does Q38.4 group to?

When congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts 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 Q38.4 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 congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Q38.4?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts converts to ICD-9-CM 750.21 (salivary gland absence), 750.22 (accessory salivary gland), and 750.23 (cong atresia, saliv duct). 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.