ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

T16Foreign body in ear

Not billable — use a more specific code

T16 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 3 more specific codes beneath it.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About T16

T16 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for foreign body in ear. It belongs to block T15-T19 (effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice) and chapter 19 (injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 3 subcodes must be used instead.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: T16.1 (ear), T16.2 (ear) and T16.9 (unspecified ear).

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Specific codes under T16

Coding notes

IncludesFurther defines the content of the category

foreign body in auditory canal

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to T16.

Broader instructions also apply from T15-T19 Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice and Chapter 19: Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.

Alphabetic index entries

1 entries

Terms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to T16.

Foreign body › entering through orifice › ear (external)

Codes whose notes reference T16

Z03.82Excludes2

Code history

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about T16

Is T16 billable?: No. T16 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.