N35.919 ICD-10-CM Code: Unspecified urethral stricture, male, unspecified site

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for N35.919 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 N35.919 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for N35.919

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

Before you code N35.919

1. Unspecified does not mean incorrect. When the record gives no greater specificity, N35.919 may be the appropriate code. Check the record for detail that supports a more specific sibling. An unspecified code is for records that do not provide the detail a more specific code needs; a query, not an assumption, is the route to specificity (Guidelines I.A.9.b, I.B.18).

   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 N35.919. 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 record document the detail a more specific sibling code needs?
   Yes → Review the specific siblings in this subcategory.
   No → Continue — N35.919 is appropriate when the documentation goes no further.
2. Does the documentation support a condition named in N35.919’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.

   ReviewQ64.3, N99.1

Consider N35.919. Then 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).

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 N35.919(2 notes)

  Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with N35.919: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

  CompareQ64.3, N99.1

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

• Excludes2 — not part of N35.919(3 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in N35.919. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareO08.8, O23, O75.3, O86.2

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

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 (5)

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.

• Pinhole meatus
• Spasm, spastic, spasticity (s), urethra (sphincter)
• Stricture, urethra (organic) (spasmodic)
• Stricture, urethra (organic) (spasmodic), male
• Tight, tightness, urethral sphincter

Don’t confuse N35.919 with…

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

The codes most likely to be picked instead of N35.919 — 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.

• Q64.3— 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 congenital urethral stricture moves the case to Q64.3; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: N35.919 vs Q64.3 →

• N99.1— 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 postprocedural urethral stricture moves the case to N99.1; the two are not reported together unless documented as unrelated.

  Full comparison: N35.919 vs N99.1 →

• O00— 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 abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy adds O00; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: N35.919 vs O00 →

• O07— 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 abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy adds O07; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: N35.919 vs O07 →

• O08.8— 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 abortion or ectopic or molar pregnancy adds O08.8; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: N35.919 vs O08.8 →

• O23— 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 pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium adds O23; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: N35.919 vs O23 →

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.

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 1 MS-DRG: DRG 697 (MDC 11).

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

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):GEN007 — Other specified and unspecified diseases of bladder and urethra (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 (Other specified and unspecified diseases of bladder and urethra).

N35.814 — Other anterior urethral stricture, male, N35.816 — Other urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites, N35.819 — Other urethral stricture, male, unspecified site, N35.82 — Other urethral stricture, female, N35.9 — Urethral stricture, unspecified, N35.911 — Unspecified urethral stricture, male, meatal, N35.912 — Unspecified bulbous urethral stricture, male, N35.913 — Unspecified membranous urethral stricture, male, N35.914 — Unspecified anterior urethral stricture, male, N35.916 — Unspecified urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites, N35.92 — Unspecified urethral stricture, female, N36.0 — Urethral fistula, N36.1 — Urethral diverticulum, N36.2 — Urethral caruncle, N36.41 — Hypermobility of urethra, N36.42 — Intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD), N36.43 — Combined hypermobility of urethra and intrinsic sphincter deficiency, N36.44 — Muscular disorders of urethra, N36.5 — Urethral false passage, N36.8 — Other specified disorders of urethra, +43 more

Same Index main term, other category

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

M62.830 — Muscle spasm of back (muscle NEC, back), M62.838 — Other muscle spasm (muscle NEC), M62.89 — Other specified disorders of muscle (fascia), N11.1 — Chronic obstructive pyelonephritis (ureter, with, pyelonephritis), N13.0 — Hydronephrosis with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (pelviureteric junction, acquired, with hydronephrosis), N13.1 — Hydronephrosis with ureteral stricture, not elsewhere classified (ureter, with, hydronephrosis), N13.5 — Crossing vessel and stricture of ureter without hydronephrosis (ureter), N13.6 — Pyonephrosis (ureterovesical orifice, with infection), N32.0 — Bladder-neck obstruction (bladder, neck), N32.89 — Other specified disorders of bladder (bladder), N42.89 — Other specified disorders of prostate (prostate), N47.1 — Phimosis (foreskin), N50.89 — Other specified disorders of the male genital organs (vas deferens), N83.8 — Other noninflammatory disorders of ovary, fallopian tube and broad ligament (fallopian tube), N85.6 — Intrauterine synechiae (uterus, uterine), N85.8 — Other specified noninflammatory disorders of uterus (uterus), N88.2 — Stricture and stenosis of cervix uteri (cervix, cervical), N89.6 — Tight hymenal ring (hymen), N90.5 — Atrophy of vulva (vulva), N94.2 — Vaginismus (vagina), +144 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of N35.919 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

• N00-N99 — Chapter 14: Diseases of the Genitourinary System (N00-N99) (N00-N99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N30-N39 — Other diseases of the urinary system[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• GEN007 — Other specified and unspecified diseases of bladder and urethra[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 697 — URETHRAL STRICTURE[MS-DRG]: “URETHRAL STRICTURE (MDC 11)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 11 — Diseases and Disorders of the Kidney and Urinary Tract[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Kidney and Urinary Tract — 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. 3,574 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

• Pinhole meatus[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Spasm, spastic, spasticity (s), urethra (sphincter)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Stricture, urethra (organic) (spasmodic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Stricture, urethra (organic) (spasmodic), male[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Tight, tightness, urethral sphincter[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (38)

• N35 — Urethral stricture[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.0 — Post-traumatic urethral stricture[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.01 — Post-traumatic urethral stricture, male[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.010 — Post-traumatic urethral stricture, male, meatal[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.011 — Post-traumatic bulbous urethral stricture[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.012 — Post-traumatic membranous urethral stricture[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.013 — Post-traumatic anterior urethral stricture[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• N35.014 — Post-traumatic urethral stricture, male, unspecified[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 30 more

Change history

• FY2019 — Added to the code set[Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2019

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

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 N35.919 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• N35.819 — Other urethral stricture, male, unspecified site
• N35.82 — Other urethral stricture, female
• N35.9 — Urethral stricture, unspecified
• N35.91 — Urethral stricture, unspecified, male
• N35.911 — Unspecified urethral stricture, male, meatal
• N35.912 — Unspecified bulbous urethral stricture, male
• N35.913 — Unspecified membranous urethral stricture, male
• N35.914 — Unspecified anterior urethral stricture, male
• N35.916 — Unspecified urethral stricture, male, overlapping sites
• N35.92 — Unspecified urethral stricture, female

View all codes in the N35 family