J39.0
Billable codeRetropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess
The ICD-10 code for retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess is J39.0.
Clinical notes
Excludes1 (not coded here)
An Excludes1 note is a pure exclusion: the excluded condition and this code should never be reported together, because the two conditions cannot occur at the same time (e.g. a congenital form vs. an acquired form of the same disease).
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)
Also known as
Alternate wording, synonyms, or specific conditions that fall under this code, listed to help confirm you've picked the right one.
- Peripharyngeal abscess
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •Confirm the excluded condition(s) listed above are not also present — Excludes1 conditions cannot be coded together with this one.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Related codes in this category
ICD-9-CM equivalent
Informational only — GEM mappings are approximate, not guaranteed one-to-one equivalents. Verify before use in billing.
- 47822Approximate match
- 47824Approximate match
Associated MS-DRGs
J39.0 can serve as the principal diagnosis for these Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups.
Informational only — actual DRG assignment also depends on procedures, complications/comorbidities (CC/MCC), discharge status, and payer-specific rules not reflected here.
- DRG 011Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with MCC
- DRG 012Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy with CC
- DRG 013Tracheostomy for Face, Mouth and Neck Diagnoses or Laryngectomy without CC/MCC
- DRG 152Otitis Media and URI with MCC
- DRG 153Otitis Media and URI without MCC