2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Z18.9Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material

ICD-10-CM Codes›Z00–Z99›Z18›Z18

ICD-10-CM Z18.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Z18.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material. 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
Z18.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material
Short Description
Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
Z18
Retained foreign body fragments

Code Classification

ChapterZ00–Z99Factors influencing health status and contact with health services
SectionZ18Retained foreign body fragments
CategoryZ18Retained foreign body fragments
This CodeZ18.9Retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material

Code EditsBilling

Medicare Code Editor checks that affect claim validity for Z18.9.

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

Z18.9 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.

  • Bilateral foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of feet
  • Bilateral foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of hands
  • Bilateral foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of upper arms
  • Bilateral retained intraocular nonmagnetic foreign body due to and following eye trauma
  • Cutaneous reaction to injected foreign material
  • Eyeball wound due to penetrating foreign body
  • Foreign body accident - orifice
  • Foreign body dermatosis
  • Foreign body granuloma of colon
  • Foreign body granuloma of intestine
  • Foreign body granuloma of penis
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of bilateral shoulders
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of bilateral thighs
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left ankle
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left foot
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left forearm
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left hand
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left lower leg
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left shoulder
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left thigh
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of left upper arm
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right ankle
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right foot
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right forearm
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right hand
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right lower leg
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right shoulder
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right thigh
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of right upper arm
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of shoulder
  • Foreign body granuloma of soft tissue of thigh
  • Foreign body in anterior abdominal wall
  • Foreign body in anterior chamber
  • Foreign body in anterior segment of eyeball
  • Foreign body in anus
  • Foreign body in auricle
  • Foreign body in bone
  • Foreign body in fallopian tube
  • Foreign body in female genital organs and perineum
  • Foreign body in female perineum
  • Foreign body in gingival mucous membrane
  • Foreign body in gingival mucous membrane with infection
  • Foreign body in heart
  • Foreign body in heel
  • Foreign body in jaw bone
  • Foreign body in lacrimal punctum
  • Foreign body in left auricle
  • Foreign body in left ear
  • Foreign body in left external ear
  • Foreign body in left forearm
  • Foreign body in left lower leg
  • Foreign body in left lower limb
  • Foreign body in lens
  • Foreign body in lip
  • Foreign body in male genital organs and perineum
  • Foreign body in male perineum
  • Foreign body in maxillary sinus
  • Foreign body in middle ear
  • Foreign body in mucosa of vagina
  • Foreign body in mucosa of vagina with infection
  • Foreign body in nasal sinus
  • Foreign body in oral mucosa
  • Foreign body in ovary
  • Foreign body in penis
  • Foreign body in posterior wall of eye
  • Foreign body in prostate
  • Foreign body in right auricle
  • Foreign body in right ear
  • Foreign body in right external ear
  • Foreign body in right forearm
  • Foreign body in right lower leg
  • Foreign body in right lower limb
  • Foreign body in sclera
  • Foreign body in scrotum
  • Foreign body in skin of abdomen
  • Foreign body in skin of abdomen with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of ankle
  • Foreign body in skin of ankle with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of axilla
  • Foreign body in skin of axilla with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of back
  • Foreign body in skin of back with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of breast
  • Foreign body in skin of breast with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of buttock
  • Foreign body in skin of buttock with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of calf
  • Foreign body in skin of cheek
  • Foreign body in skin of cheek with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of chest
  • Foreign body in skin of ear
  • Foreign body in skin of ear with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of elbow
  • Foreign body in skin of elbow with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of face
  • Foreign body in skin of face with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand
  • Foreign body in skin of finger of left hand with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand
  • Foreign body in skin of finger of right hand with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of finger with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of flank
  • Foreign body in skin of flank with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of foot
  • Foreign body in skin of foot with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of forearm
  • Foreign body in skin of forearm with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of genitalia
  • Foreign body in skin of great toe
  • Foreign body in skin of groin
  • Foreign body in skin of groin with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of hand with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of head
  • Foreign body in skin of head and neck
  • Foreign body in skin of hip
  • Foreign body in skin of hip with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of interscapular region
  • Foreign body in skin of interscapular region with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of left ankle
  • Foreign body in skin of left ear
  • Foreign body in skin of left great toe
  • Foreign body in skin of left hand with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of left little finger
  • Foreign body in skin of left middle finger
  • Foreign body in skin of left ring finger
  • Foreign body in skin of left shoulder
  • Foreign body in skin of left wrist
  • Foreign body in skin of lesser toe of left foot
  • Foreign body in skin of lesser toe of right foot
  • Foreign body in skin of lip
  • Foreign body in skin of little finger
  • Foreign body in skin of lower leg
  • Foreign body in skin of lower limb with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of middle finger
  • Foreign body in skin of middle finger with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of mouth
  • Foreign body in skin of neck
  • Foreign body in skin of neck with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of nose
  • Foreign body in skin of nose with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of penis
  • Foreign body in skin of penis with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of perineum
  • Foreign body in skin of right ankle
  • Foreign body in skin of right ear
  • Foreign body in skin of right great toe
  • Foreign body in skin of right hand with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of right little finger
  • Foreign body in skin of right middle finger
  • Foreign body in skin of right ring finger
  • Foreign body in skin of right shoulder
  • Foreign body in skin of right wrist
  • Foreign body in skin of ring finger
  • Foreign body in skin of scalp
  • Foreign body in skin of scalp with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of scapular region
  • Foreign body in skin of scapular region with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of scrotum
  • Foreign body in skin of scrotum with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of shoulder
  • Foreign body in skin of shoulder with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of sole of foot
  • Foreign body in skin of thigh
  • Foreign body in skin of thigh with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of toe
  • Foreign body in skin of toe with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of trunk with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of upper arm
  • Foreign body in skin of upper arm with infection
  • Foreign body in skin of wrist
  • Foreign body in skin of wrist with infection
  • Foreign body in testis
  • Foreign body in thumb
  • Foreign body in upper respiratory tract
  • Foreign body in vagina
  • Foreign body in vas deferens
  • Foreign body in vulva
  • Foreign body left in elbow
  • Foreign body left in hand
  • Foreign body left in hip
  • Foreign body left in wound
  • Foreign body of body cavity and wall
  • Foreign body of cardiovascular structure
  • Foreign body of endocrine structure
  • Foreign body of foot
  • Foreign body of left breast
  • Foreign body of left lacrimal punctum
  • Foreign body of left orbit proper
  • Foreign body of musculoskeletal structure
  • Foreign body of right breast
  • Foreign body of right lacrimal punctum
  • Foreign body of right orbit proper
  • Foreign body on left external eye
  • Foreign body on right external eye
  • Gingival foreign body
  • Granuloma of intestine
  • Impalement of foreign body in back
  • Intra-abdominal foreign body
  • Intracranial foreign body
  • Intraocular foreign body in vitreous
  • Laceration of abdomen with foreign body
  • Laceration of ankle
  • Laceration of ankle with foreign body
  • Laceration of finger with foreign body
  • Laceration of foot with foreign body
  • Laceration of hand with foreign body
  • Laceration of hip
  • Laceration of hip with foreign body
  • Laceration of lower back
  • Laceration of lower back with foreign body
  • Laceration of neck with foreign body
  • Laceration of pelvis with foreign body
  • Laceration of shoulder region with foreign body
  • Laceration of thorax with foreign body
  • Laceration of toe with foreign body
  • Laceration of wrist
  • Laceration of wrist with foreign body
  • Laceration with foreign body of head
  • Multiple retained foreign bodies in soft tissue
  • Nodule of large intestine
  • Obstruction of inferior vena cava
  • Obstruction of inferior vena cava with foreign body
  • Obstruction of superior vena cava
  • Obstruction of superior vena cava with foreign body
  • Open wound of left buttock
  • Open wound of right buttock
  • Orbital foreign body
  • Penetrating wound of abdomen
  • Penetrating wound of eyeball with foreign body
  • Penetrating wound of left eye proper
  • Penetrating wound of left eye proper due to foreign body
  • Penetrating wound of right eye proper
  • Penetrating wound of right eye proper due to foreign body
  • Perforating wound of stomach following ingestion of foreign material
  • Peritoneal foreign body
  • Pulmonary artery embolism due to foreign body
  • Puncture wound and foreign body of ankle
  • Puncture wound and foreign body of foot
  • Puncture wound of abdomen
  • Puncture wound of abdomen with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of ankle
  • Puncture wound of back
  • Puncture wound of buttock
  • Puncture wound of buttock with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of ear region
  • Puncture wound of elbow
  • Puncture wound of finger with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of forearm
  • Puncture wound of forearm with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of hand with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of head with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of hip
  • Puncture wound of hip with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of knee
  • Puncture wound of knee region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left buttock
  • Puncture wound of left buttock with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left ear
  • Puncture wound of left ear with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left elbow
  • Puncture wound of left elbow region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left foot
  • Puncture wound of left foot with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left forearm
  • Puncture wound of left forearm with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left hand with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left hip
  • Puncture wound of left hip with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left knee
  • Puncture wound of left knee region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left lower leg
  • Puncture wound of left lower leg with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left shoulder region
  • Puncture wound of left shoulder with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left upper limb with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of left wrist
  • Puncture wound of left wrist region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of lower back
  • Puncture wound of lower back with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of lower leg with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of pelvic region
  • Puncture wound of pelvic region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right buttock
  • Puncture wound of right buttock with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right ear
  • Puncture wound of right ear with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right elbow
  • Puncture wound of right elbow region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right foot
  • Puncture wound of right foot with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right forearm
  • Puncture wound of right forearm with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right hand with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right hip
  • Puncture wound of right hip with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right knee
  • Puncture wound of right knee region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right lower leg
  • Puncture wound of right lower leg with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right shoulder region
  • Puncture wound of right shoulder with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right upper limb with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of right wrist
  • Puncture wound of right wrist region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of shoulder
  • Puncture wound of shoulder region with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of thigh
  • Puncture wound of thigh with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of thorax with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of toe of left foot
  • Puncture wound of toe of left foot with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of toe of right foot
  • Puncture wound of toe of right foot with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of toe with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of upper limb with foreign body
  • Puncture wound of wrist
  • Puncture wound of wrist with foreign body
  • Residual foreign body in bone
  • Residual foreign body in soft tissue
  • Retained foreign body
  • Retained foreign body in ankle region
  • Retained foreign body in anterior chamber of eye
  • Retained foreign body in anterior chamber of left eye
  • Retained foreign body in anterior chamber of right eye
  • Retained foreign body in bilateral eyelids
  • Retained foreign body in bilateral eyes
  • Retained foreign body in bilateral lower eyelids
  • Retained foreign body in bilateral orbits
  • Retained foreign body in bilateral upper eyelids
  • Retained foreign body in foot
  • Retained foreign body in knee region
  • Retained foreign body in left eye
  • Retained foreign body in left orbit
  • Retained foreign body in multiple soft tissue sites
  • Retained foreign body in orbit
  • Retained foreign body in posterior wall of left eye
  • Retained foreign body in posterior wall of right eye
  • Retained foreign body in right eye
  • Retained foreign body in right orbit
  • Retained foreign body in shoulder region
  • Retained foreign body in wrist region
  • Retained foreign body of bilateral middle ears
  • Retained foreign body of left eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of left lower eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of left middle ear
  • Retained foreign body of left upper eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of lower eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of middle ear
  • Retained foreign body of right eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of right lower eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of right middle ear
  • Retained foreign body of right upper eyelid
  • Retained foreign body of upper eyelid
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in anterior chamber
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in anterior chamber of left eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in anterior chamber of right eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in left eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in lens
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in lens of bilateral eyes
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in lens of left eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in lens of right eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in multiple sites of the eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in posterior wall of bilateral eyes
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in posterior wall of eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in posterior wall of left eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in posterior wall of right eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in right eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in vitreous
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in vitreous of left eye
  • Retained nonmagnetic foreign body in vitreous of right eye
  • Splinter in ankle
  • Splinter in eyelid
  • Splinter in face
  • Superficial foreign body in anus
  • Superficial foreign body in head
  • Superficial foreign body in left breast
  • Superficial foreign body in left foot with infection
  • Superficial foreign body in lip
  • Superficial foreign body in low back
  • Superficial foreign body in mouth
  • Superficial foreign body in perineum
  • Superficial foreign body in right breast
  • Superficial foreign body in right foot with infection
  • Superficial foreign body in vulva
  • Superficial foreign body of anus with infection
  • Superficial foreign body of chest wall with infection
  • Superficial foreign body of left middle finger with infection
  • Superficial foreign body of lip with infection
  • Superficial foreign body of perineum with infection
  • Superficial foreign body of right middle finger with infection
  • Superficial foreign body of skin of left foot
  • Superficial foreign body of skin of right foot
  • Superficial foreign body of throat
  • Superficial foreign body of vulva with infection
  • Superficial foreign body with infection
  • Superficial injury of anus with infection
  • Superficial injury of axilla with infection
  • Superficial injury of buttock with infection
  • Superficial injury of cheek with infection
  • Superficial injury of ear with infection
  • Superficial injury of flank with infection
  • Superficial injury of groin with infection
  • Superficial injury of gum with infection
  • Superficial injury of head and neck
  • Superficial injury of interscapular region with infection
  • Superficial injury of left ankle
  • Superficial injury of left ear
  • Superficial injury of left middle finger
  • Superficial injury of left ring finger
  • Superficial injury of lip
  • Superficial injury of lip with infection
  • Superficial injury of neck with infection
  • Superficial injury of nose with infection
  • Superficial injury of penis with infection
  • Superficial injury of right ankle
  • Superficial injury of right ear
  • Superficial injury of right middle finger
  • Superficial injury of right ring finger
  • Superficial injury of scalp with infection
  • Superficial injury of scapular region with infection
  • Superficial injury of scrotum
  • Superficial injury of scrotum with infection
  • Superficial injury of skin of great toe of left foot
  • Superficial injury of skin of great toe of right foot
  • Superficial injury of sole of foot
  • Superficial injury of thigh with infection
  • Superficial injury of vagina with infection
  • Superficial injury of vulva with infection
  • Superficial injury of wrist with infection
  • Traumatic perforation of stomach

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)
    • Retained
      • fragments (type of )

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

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

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Foreign Body in Penis

    extraneous material located within the penis.

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 Z18.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
V90.9 Retain FB, mat 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 Z18.9Overview

Is Z18.9 (Retained foreign body fragments) a billable code?

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

Can Z18.9 be a principal diagnosis?

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

Is Z18.9 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 foreign body fragments, unspecified material on inpatient claims.

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

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, retained foreign body fragments, unspecified material converts to ICD-9-CM V90.9 (retain FB, mat NOS). The mapping is a direct match.