Foreign body in alimentary tract (T18) ICD-10-CM
The T18 code range covers foreign body in alimentary tract with 66 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 45 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
- foreign body in pharynx T17.2
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T18
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
Codes in the T18 Range 66 codes · 45 billable
- T18 Foreign body in alimentary tractNon-billable
- T18.0 Foreign body in mouthNon-billable
- T18.0XXA Foreign body in mouth, initial encounter
- T18.0XXD Foreign body in mouth, subsequent encounter
- T18.0XXS Foreign body in mouth, sequela
- T18.1 Foreign body in esophagusNon-billable
- T18.10 Unspecified foreign body in esophagusNon-billable
- T18.100 Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing compression of tracheaNon-billable
- T18.100A Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing compression of trachea, initial encounter
- T18.100D Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing compression of trachea, subsequent encounter
- T18.100S Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing compression of trachea, sequela
- T18.108 Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing other injuryNon-billable
- T18.108A Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing other injury, initial encounter
- T18.108D Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing other injury, subsequent encounter
- T18.108S Unspecified foreign body in esophagus causing other injury, sequela
- T18.11 Gastric contents in esophagusNon-billable
- T18.110 Gastric contents in esophagus causing compression of tracheaNon-billable
- T18.110A Gastric contents in esophagus causing compression of trachea, initial encounter
- T18.110D Gastric contents in esophagus causing compression of trachea, subsequent encounter
- T18.110S Gastric contents in esophagus causing compression of trachea, sequela
- T18.118 Gastric contents in esophagus causing other injuryNon-billable
- T18.118A Gastric contents in esophagus causing other injury, initial encounter
- T18.118D Gastric contents in esophagus causing other injury, subsequent encounter
- T18.118S Gastric contents in esophagus causing other injury, sequela
- T18.12 Food in esophagusNon-billable
- T18.120 Food in esophagus causing compression of tracheaNon-billable
- T18.120A Food in esophagus causing compression of trachea, initial encounter
- T18.120D Food in esophagus causing compression of trachea, subsequent encounter
- T18.120S Food in esophagus causing compression of trachea, sequela
- T18.128 Food in esophagus causing other injuryNon-billable
- T18.128A Food in esophagus causing other injury, initial encounter
- T18.128D Food in esophagus causing other injury, subsequent encounter
- T18.128S Food in esophagus causing other injury, sequela
- T18.19 Other foreign object in esophagusNon-billable
- T18.190 Other foreign object in esophagus causing compression of tracheaNon-billable
- T18.190A Other foreign object in esophagus causing compression of trachea, initial encounter
- T18.190D Other foreign object in esophagus causing compression of trachea, subsequent encounter
- T18.190S Other foreign object in esophagus causing compression of trachea, sequela
- T18.198 Other foreign object in esophagus causing other injuryNon-billable
- T18.198A Other foreign object in esophagus causing other injury, initial encounter
- T18.198D Other foreign object in esophagus causing other injury, subsequent encounter
- T18.198S Other foreign object in esophagus causing other injury, sequela
- T18.2 Foreign body in stomachNon-billable
- T18.2XXA Foreign body in stomach, initial encounter
- T18.2XXD Foreign body in stomach, subsequent encounter
- T18.2XXS Foreign body in stomach, sequela
- T18.3 Foreign body in small intestineNon-billable
- T18.3XXA Foreign body in small intestine, initial encounter
- T18.3XXD Foreign body in small intestine, subsequent encounter
- T18.3XXS Foreign body in small intestine, sequela
- T18.4 Foreign body in colonNon-billable
- T18.4XXA Foreign body in colon, initial encounter
- T18.4XXD Foreign body in colon, subsequent encounter
- T18.4XXS Foreign body in colon, sequela
- T18.5 Foreign body in anus and rectumNon-billable
- T18.5XXA Foreign body in anus and rectum, initial encounter
- T18.5XXD Foreign body in anus and rectum, subsequent encounter
- T18.5XXS Foreign body in anus and rectum, sequela
- T18.8 Foreign body in other parts of alimentary tractNon-billable
- T18.8XXA Foreign body in other parts of alimentary tract, initial encounter
- T18.8XXD Foreign body in other parts of alimentary tract, subsequent encounter
- T18.8XXS Foreign body in other parts of alimentary tract, sequela
- T18.9 Foreign body of alimentary tract, part unspecifiedNon-billable
- T18.9XXA Foreign body of alimentary tract, part unspecified, initial encounter
- T18.9XXD Foreign body of alimentary tract, part unspecified, subsequent encounter
- T18.9XXS Foreign body of alimentary tract, part unspecified, sequela
About the T18 Code Range
The ICD-10 code T18 series is used to classify cases of a foreign body in the alimentary tract, detailing specific body locations such as the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, colon, anus, and other digestive tract parts. These codes cover initial encounters, subsequent encounters, and sequelae of such foreign body incidents.
Each code precisely identifies the location and nature of the foreign object; for example, T18.0XXA codes a foreign body in the mouth, including well-known terms like "gingival foreign body" or "metal foreign body in mouth." The T18.1 group addresses foreign bodies in the esophagus, accommodating cases where the object causes tracheal compression or other injuries—key situations also described by synonyms like "respiratory obstruction due to foreign body in esophagus." The stomach and intestines have corresponding codes, such as those for bezoars (e.g., trichobezoar or phytobezoar) under T18.2XXA for the stomach or T18.3XXA for the small intestine. These codes help medical coders accurately document conditions involving swallowed objects, lodged food like chicken bones (T18.128), or other foreign matter, distinguishing initial treatment, follow-ups, and long-term effects. The system facilitates clear communication when coding complex scenarios such as impactions or injuries caused by foreign bodies throughout the digestive tract.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the T18 range?
Of the 66 codes in this range, 45 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the T18 range classify?
The range classifies foreign body in alimentary tract. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
