K20.80 ICD-10-CM Code: Other esophagitis without bleeding

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for K20.80 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on K20.80 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for K20.80

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code K20.80

1. “Other” (NEC) means the condition is specified in the record but no dedicated code captures it. Confirm the documented form is not one a sibling code names before settling on K20.80; if the record states no specifics at all, the unspecified sibling applies instead. “Other” codes are for documented conditions the classification gives no specific code; “unspecified” codes are for records lacking the detail (Guidelines I.A.9.a, I.A.9.b).

   See the relationships section · Guide: Other vs unspecified (NEC vs NOS) →

2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with K20.80. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

   See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support a condition named in K20.80’s Excludes1 note?
   Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
   No → Continue.

   ReviewK22.1, K21.0

Consider K20.80. Then work the Use Additional Code note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

The associated condition or complication

Whether the associated condition the title names is documented; the “with” convention presumes some links, and a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it (Guidelines I.A.15).

The conditions the Use Additional Code note names

Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Any detail beyond this code’s title

What the record states that a more specific sibling code would capture — or its absence, which itself supports the unspecified code.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes1 — check before selecting K20.80(4 notes)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with K20.80: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareK22.1, K21.0

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

• Excludes2 — not part of K20.80(2 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in K20.80. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareK52.81, K44

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

• Use Additional Code — after identifying K20.80(2 notes)

  Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with K20.80 when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

  ReviewF10

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (2)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic), esophagus
• Esophagitis (acute) (alkaline) (chemical) (chronic) (infectional) (necrotic) (peptic) (postoperative) (without bleeding), specified NEC (without bleeding)

Official Coding Guidelines

No excerpt in the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines names this code specifically. Its chapter carries only this chapter-wide note:

Don’t confuse K20.80 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of K20.80 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• K22.1— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of erosion of esophagus moves the case to K22.1; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K20.80 vs K22.1 →

• K21.0— Excludes1 conflict (Excludes1 — generally not reported together)

  Not coded here — the tabular list excludes this pair for the same encounter.

  Not reported together with this code, except where the two conditions are documented as unrelated.

  What moves you there: Documentation of esophagitis with gastro-esophageal reflux disease moves the case to K21.0; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: K20.80 vs K21.0 →

• K52.81— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of eosinophilic gastritis or gastroenteritis adds K52.81; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: K20.80 vs K52.81 →

• K44— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of hiatus hernia adds K44; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: K20.80 vs K44 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

1. 2 Use Additional Code instructions — report the named additional code(s) when the documentation supports them. See the Use Additional Code notes
2. 4 Excludes1 entries — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes
3. 2 Excludes2 entries — those conditions are not part of this code and may be reported additionally when documented. See the Excludes2 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

• No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 391 (MDC 06), DRG 392 (MDC 06).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):DIG004 — Esophageal disorders (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Esophageal disorders).

B37.81 — Candidal esophagitis, B57.31 — Megaesophagus in Chagas' disease, K20.0 — Eosinophilic esophagitis, K20.8 — Other esophagitis, K20.81 — Other esophagitis with bleeding, K20.9 — Esophagitis, unspecified, K20.90 — Esophagitis, unspecified without bleeding, K20.91 — Esophagitis, unspecified with bleeding, K21.0 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, K21.00 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, without bleeding, K21.01 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, with bleeding, K21.9 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis, K22.0 — Achalasia of cardia, K22.10 — Ulcer of esophagus without bleeding, K22.11 — Ulcer of esophagus with bleeding, K22.2 — Esophageal obstruction, K22.3 — Perforation of esophagus, K22.4 — Dyskinesia of esophagus, K22.5 — Diverticulum of esophagus, acquired, K22.6 — Gastro-esophageal laceration-hemorrhage syndrome, +10 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Esophagitis”, “Abscess”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

K05.213 — Aggressive periodontitis, localized, severe (gum, aggressive, localized, severe), K05.219 — Aggressive periodontitis, localized, unspecified severity (gum, aggressive, localized), K05.221 — Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, slight (gum, aggressive, generalized, slight), K05.222 — Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, moderate (gum, aggressive, generalized, moderate), K05.223 — Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, severe (gum, aggressive, generalized, severe), K05.229 — Aggressive periodontitis, generalized, unspecified severity (gum, aggressive, generalized), K11.3 — Abscess of salivary gland (parotid), K12.2 — Cellulitis and abscess of mouth (mouth), K13.0 — Diseases of lips (lip), K14.0 — Glossitis (tongue), K21.00 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, without bleeding (reflux), K21.01 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, with bleeding (reflux, with bleeding), K22.10 — Ulcer of esophagus without bleeding (ulcerative), K22.11 — Ulcer of esophagus with bleeding (ulcerative, with bleeding), K35.33 — Acute appendicitis with perforation, localized peritonitis, and gangrene, with abscess (cecum), K57.00 — Diverticulitis of small intestine with perforation and abscess without bleeding (with, diverticular disease, small intestine), K57.01 — Diverticulitis of small intestine with perforation and abscess with bleeding (with, diverticular disease, small intestine, with, bleeding), K57.20 — Diverticulitis of large intestine with perforation and abscess without bleeding (with, diverticular disease, large intestine), K57.21 — Diverticulitis of large intestine with perforation and abscess with bleeding (with, diverticular disease, large intestine, with, bleeding), K57.40 — Diverticulitis of both small and large intestine with perforation and abscess without bleeding (with, diverticular disease, large intestine, with, small intestine), +165 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of K20.80 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

• K00-K95 — Chapter 11: Diseases of the Digestive System (K00-K95) (K00-K95)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20-K31 — Diseases of esophagus, stomach and duodenum[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• DIG004 — Esophageal disorders[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 391 — ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 06)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 392 — ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC[MS-DRG]: “ESOPHAGITIS, GASTROENTERITIS AND MISCELLANEOUS DIGESTIVE DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 06)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 06 — Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,744 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic), esophagus[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Esophagitis (acute) (alkaline) (chemical) (chronic) (infectional) (necrotic) (peptic) (postoperative) (without bleeding), specified NEC (without bleeding)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes

• K20 — Esophagitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20.0 — Eosinophilic esophagitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20.8 — Other esophagitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20.81 — Other esophagitis with bleeding[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20.9 — Esophagitis, unspecified[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20.90 — Esophagitis, unspecified without bleeding[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• K20.91 — Esophagitis, unspecified with bleeding[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Change history

• FY2021 — Added to the code set[Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2021

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Coding guidelines Official source data

ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (FY2026), quoted by section Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to K20.80 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• K20 — Esophagitis
• K20.0 — Eosinophilic esophagitis
• K20.8 — Other esophagitis
• K20.81 — Other esophagitis with bleeding
• K20.9 — Esophagitis, unspecified
• K20.90 — Esophagitis, unspecified without bleeding
• K20.91 — Esophagitis, unspecified with bleeding

View all codes in the K20 family