Suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract (J85-J86) ICD-10-CM
The J85–J86 section covers suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract with 8 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes, of which 6 are billable in fiscal year 2026. The section is organized into the 2 code ranges listed below.
Code Ranges in This Section 2 ranges · 8 codes
| Code Range | Title | Codes | Billable |
|---|---|---|---|
| J85 | Abscess of lung and mediastinum (J85) | 5 | 4 |
| J86 | Pyothorax (J86) | 3 | 2 |
The info icon previews the code ranges inside each row and its instructional notations from the official Tabular List.
About the J85–J86 Code Range
ICD-10 codes J85-J86 cover serious infections involving pus and tissue death in the lower respiratory tract, including lung and mediastinum abscesses, gangrene of the lung, and pyothorax with or without fistula.
This group of codes is used to classify various suppurative and necrotic conditions affecting the lungs and surrounding areas. J85 specifically addresses abscesses in the lung and mediastinum, including gangrenous pneumonia (gangrene of lung, J85.0) and different types of lung abscesses, whether accompanied by pneumonia (J85.1) or not (J85.2). Abscesses located in the mediastinum are coded under J85.3. The J86 codes relate to pyothorax, an accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity. When pyothorax occurs with abnormal passages like fistulas connecting airways or esophagus, it is coded as J86.0. Pyothorax without fistula is coded under J86.9 and includes terms such as empyema and bacterial pleurisy. These codes help medical professionals accurately document complex infections characterized by tissue destruction and pus formation in the lower respiratory area.
Questions About This Page
How many codes are in the J85-J86 range?
The J85-J86 range contains 8 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes in FY 2026. 6 of them are billable, and the rest are category headers that organize the section.
What conditions does J85-J86 cover?
The range covers suppurative and necrotic conditions of the lower respiratory tract. The code ranges listed above break it into groups of related conditions, and each one links to its own page with the full code list.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
