ICD-10/K22.3

K22.3 ICD 2026 Code: Perforation of esophagus

K22.3 is the authoritative medical code for Perforation of esophagus. This classification is used in medical billing and clinical recording to specify the clinical criteria for perforation of esophagus (ICD-10-CM K22.3), ensuring healthcare documentation aligns with 2026 federal coding standards.

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Perforation of esophagus is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code K22.3. Inclusion terms: Rupture of esophagus. Excludes1 (not coded here): traumatic perforation of thoracic esophagus S27.8-. Excludes2 (not included here): esophageal varices I85.-; hiatus hernia K44.-.

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for K22.3 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Rupture of esophagus

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions that can never be reported with this code; the two are mutually exclusive.

  • traumatic perforation of thoracic esophagus S27.8-

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

  • esophageal varices I85.-
  • hiatus hernia K44.-

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Clinical Guidance

What can't be coded together with K22.3?

Per Excludes1 instructions, K22.3 must not be reported with: traumatic perforation of (thoracic) esophagus (S27.8-).

Can K22.3 be reported alongside related conditions?

Per Excludes2 instructions, K22.3 and the following may both be reported when both are present: esophageal varices (I85.-); hiatus hernia (K44.-).

What conditions are included under K22.3?

Perforation of esophagus includes: Rupture of esophagus.

Codes in This Family (20)

Official ICD-10-CM classifications in the same code family as K22.3, with their registry titles.

  • K22 — Other diseases of esophagus
  • K22.0 — Achalasia of cardia
  • K22.1 — Ulcer of esophagus
  • K22.10 — Ulcer of esophagus without bleeding
  • K22.11 — Ulcer of esophagus with bleeding
  • K22.2 — Esophageal obstruction
  • K22.4 — Dyskinesia of esophagus
  • K22.5 — Diverticulum of esophagus, acquired
  • K22.6 — Gastro-esophageal laceration-hemorrhage syndrome
  • K22.7 — Barrett's esophagus
  • K22.70 — Barrett's esophagus without dysplasia
  • K22.71 — Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia
  • K22.710 — Barrett's esophagus with low grade dysplasia
  • K22.711 — Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia
  • K22.719 — Barrett's esophagus with dysplasia, unspecified
  • K22.8 — Other specified diseases of esophagus
  • K22.81 — Esophageal polyp
  • K22.82 — Esophagogastric junction polyp
  • K22.89 — Other specified disease of esophagus
  • K22.9 — Disease of esophagus, unspecified

Indexed Clinical Terms (4)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Boerhaave's syndrome (spontaneous esophageal rupture)
  • Perforation, perforated (nontraumatic) (of), esophagus
  • Rupture, ruptured, esophagus
  • Syndrome, Boerhaave's

Related Codes & Numerical Sequence (Crawl Map)

Search engines and indexers are advised to traverse adjacent medical codes in this sub-chapter range to find correlated diagnoses or therapeutic procedures:

ICD Code K25.3 Acute gastric ulcer without hemorrhage or perforation
ICD Code K26.3 Acute duodenal ulcer without hemorrhage or perforation
ICD Code K27.3 Acute peptic ulcer, site unspecified, without hemorrhage or perforation
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