2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z18.10Retained metal fragments, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z18›Z18

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

Z18.10 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for retained metal fragments, unspecified. 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
Z18.10
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Retained metal fragments, unspecified
Short Description
Retained metal fragments, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z18.1
Retained metal fragments

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ18Retained foreign body fragments
CategoryZ18Retained foreign body fragments
This CodeZ18.10Retained metal fragments, unspecified

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z18.10.

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

Z18.10 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.

  • Ear ring embedded in ear lobe
  • Fishing hook foreign body
  • Fishing hook in abdomen
  • Fishing hook in ankle
  • Fishing hook in anterior region of neck
  • Fishing hook in axilla
  • Fishing hook in back
  • Fishing hook in buttock
  • Fishing hook in calf
  • Fishing hook in cheek
  • Fishing hook in chest
  • Fishing hook in dorsum of foot
  • Fishing hook in dorsum of hand
  • Fishing hook in ear region
  • Fishing hook in eye region
  • Fishing hook in face
  • Fishing hook in foot
  • Fishing hook in forehead
  • Fishing hook in genitalia
  • Fishing hook in great toe
  • Fishing hook in groin
  • Fishing hook in hand
  • Fishing hook in head
  • Fishing hook in head and neck
  • Fishing hook in heel
  • Fishing hook in hip
  • Fishing hook in knee
  • Fishing hook in lip
  • Fishing hook in lower leg
  • Fishing hook in mouth
  • Fishing hook in neck
  • Fishing hook in palm of hand
  • Fishing hook in perineum
  • Fishing hook in pharynx
  • Fishing hook in scalp
  • Fishing hook in shin
  • Fishing hook in shoulder
  • Fishing hook in sole of foot
  • Fishing hook in thigh
  • Fishing hook in thumb
  • Fishing hook in toe
  • Fishing hook in trunk
  • Fishing hook in wrist
  • Foreign body dermatosis
  • Foreign body in auricle
  • Foreign body in heel
  • Foreign body in lip
  • Metal foreign body in abdomen
  • Metal foreign body in ankle
  • Metal foreign body in anterior region of neck
  • Metal foreign body in axilla
  • Metal foreign body in back
  • Metal foreign body in breast
  • Metal foreign body in buttock
  • Metal foreign body in calf
  • Metal foreign body in cheek
  • Metal foreign body in chest
  • Metal foreign body in dorsum of foot
  • Metal foreign body in dorsum of hand
  • Metal foreign body in ear region
  • Metal foreign body in elbow
  • Metal foreign body in eye region
  • Metal foreign body in foot
  • Metal foreign body in forehead
  • Metal foreign body in genitalia
  • Metal foreign body in great toe
  • Metal foreign body in groin
  • Metal foreign body in hand
  • Metal foreign body in head
  • Metal foreign body in head and neck
  • Metal foreign body in head and/or neck
  • Metal foreign body in heel
  • Metal foreign body in hip
  • Metal foreign body in knee
  • Metal foreign body in lip
  • Metal foreign body in lower leg
  • Metal foreign body in mouth
  • Metal foreign body in neck
  • Metal foreign body in palm of hand
  • Metal foreign body in perineum
  • Metal foreign body in pharynx
  • Metal foreign body in scalp
  • Metal foreign body in shin
  • Metal foreign body in shoulder
  • Metal foreign body in sole of foot
  • Metal foreign body in thigh
  • Metal foreign body in thumb
  • Metal foreign body in toe
  • Metal foreign body in trunk
  • Metal foreign body in wrist
  • Reaction to metallic ring, stud and/or infibulata in skin
  • Retained metal fragment foreign body
  • Separated endodontic instrument in root canal of tooth
  • Superficial metal foreign body
  • Zirconium granuloma of skin

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Inclusion Terms

  • Retained metal fragment NOS

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)
        • metal
    • Retained
      • fragments (type of )
        • metal

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 Z18.10 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V90.10 Retained metal frag NOS
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 Z18.10Overview

Is Z18.10 (Retained metal fragments) a billable code?

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

Can Z18.10 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z18.10 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 retained metal fragments, unspecified on inpatient claims.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of Z18.10?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, retained metal fragments, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM V90.10 (retained metal frag NOS). The mapping is a direct match.