2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z18.09Other retained radioactive fragments

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z18›Z18

ICD-10-CM Z18.09
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z18.09 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other retained radioactive fragments. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). The code is not accepted as a principal diagnosis by the Medicare Code Editor and exempt from POA reporting. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified status.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
Z18.09
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other retained radioactive fragments
Short Description
Other retained radioactive fragments
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z18.0
Retained radioactive fragments

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ18Retained foreign body fragments
CategoryZ18Retained foreign body fragments
This CodeZ18.09Other retained radioactive fragments

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z18.09.

Unacceptable principal diagnosis
There are selected codes that describe a circumstance which influences an individual's health status but not a current illness or injury, or codes that are not specific manifestations but may be due to an underlying cause. These codes are considered unacceptable as a principal diagnosis.

Present on Admission (POA)Billing

Z18.09 is exempt from POA reporting on inpatient claims to general acute care hospitals. Review other POA exempt codes.

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Other retained depleted isotope fragments
  • Retained nontherapeutic radioactive fragments

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.

    • Retained
      • foreign body fragments (type of)
        • depleted isotope
    • Retained
      • foreign body fragments (type of)
        • nontherapeutic radioactive
    • Retained
      • foreign body fragments (type of)
        • radioactive (nontherapeutic) NEC
    • Retained
      • fragments (type of )
        • depleted isotope
    • Retained
      • fragments (type of )
        • nontherapeutic radioactive
    • Retained
      • fragments (type of )
        • radioactive (nontherapeutic) NEC

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR FAC025
Other specified status
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient No · outpatient Yes

Patient EducationClinical

Foreign Bodies

If you've ever gotten a splinter or had sand in your eye, you've had experience with a foreign body. A foreign body is something that is stuck inside you but isn't supposed to be there. You may inhale or swallow a foreign body, or you may get one from an injury to almost any part of your body.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert Z18.09 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V90.09 Retain radioac frag NEC
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 Z18.09Overview

Is Z18.09 (Retained radioactive fragments) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other retained radioactive fragments on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Can Z18.09 be a principal diagnosis?

No. The Medicare Code Editor rejects this code as a principal diagnosis because other retained radioactive fragments describes a circumstance that influences health status rather than a current illness. Report it as a secondary diagnosis.

Is Z18.09 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 retained radioactive fragments on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z18.09?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other retained radioactive fragments converts to ICD-9-CM V90.09 (retain radioac frag NEC). The mapping is a direct match.