ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
T18Foreign body in alimentary tract
T18 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 8 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 T18
T18 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for foreign body in alimentary tract. 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 8 subcodes must be used instead.
To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: T18.0 (mouth), T18.1 (esophagus), T18.2 (stomach), T18.3 (intestine), T18.4 (colon), T18.5 (rectum), T18.8 (tract) and T18.9 (unspecified).
The conditions in its Excludes2 note aren't part of T18, but may be coded alongside it if the patient has both: foreign body in pharynx (T17.2-).
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 T18
- T18.0Foreign body in mouth
- T18.1Foreign body in esophagus
- T18.2Foreign body in stomach
- T18.3Foreign body in small intestine
- T18.4Foreign body in colon
- T18.5Foreign body in anus and rectum
- T18.8Foreign body in other parts of alimentary tract
- T18.9Foreign body of alimentary tract, part unspecified
Coding notes
- foreign body in pharynx (T17.2-)
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to T18.
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
6 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to T18.
- Asphyxia, asphyxiation › by › food (bone) (seed)
- Aspiration › food (any type) (into respiratory tract) (with asphyxia, obstruction respiratory tract, suffocation)
- Choked, choking (on) (any object except food or vomitus) › food (bone) (seed)
- Compression › trachea by › food (lodged in esophagus)
- Food (any type) in › air passages (with asphyxia, obstruction, or suffocation)
- Food (any type) in › alimentary tract causing asphyxia (due to compression of trachea)
Codes whose notes reference T18
- 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 T18
Is T18 billable?
- No. T18 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.