T18.12 – Food in esophagus

ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code · Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice

Non-billable header

ICD-10-CM code T18.12

Code: T18.12 (claims format: T1812)
Description: Food in esophagus
Billable: No – use a more specific code below
Valid for: Dates of service October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 (FY2027)
Chapter: 19. Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
Block: T15-T19 Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice
Parent codes: T18 › T18.1

Billable codes under T18.12

T18.12 is a header code and cannot be used on claims. Choose the most specific code:

T18.120 – Food in esophagus causing compression of tracheaHeader (more codes below)
T18.128 – Food in esophagus causing other injuryHeader (more codes below)

7th character values

Codes in this category need a 7th character to describe the encounter or episode of care (use placeholder X for empty positions).

Character	Meaning
`A`	initial encounter
`D`	subsequent encounter
`S`	sequela

Notes for T18.12

Applicable to:

Bones in esophagus
Seeds in esophagus

Notes inherited from parent codes

Instructional notes at a category or block level apply to every code below it.

T18 – Foreign body in alimentary tract

Excludes2 (not included here):

foreign body in pharynx (T17.2-)

7th character note:

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category T18

T18.1 – Foreign body in esophagus

Excludes2 (not included here):

foreign body in respiratory tract (T17.-)

Block T15-T19

Excludes2 (not included here):

foreign body accidentally left in operation wound (T81.5-)
foreign body in penetrating wound - See open wound by body region
residual foreign body in soft tissue (M79.5)
splinter, without open wound - See superficial injury by body region

Use additional code:

code, if known, for foreign body entering into or through a natural orifice (W44.-)

Related codes in T18.1

Frequently asked questions

What is ICD-10 code T18.12?

T18.12 is the ICD-10-CM code for food in esophagus, in the block T15-T19 (Effects of foreign body entering through natural orifice).

Is T18.12 a billable code?

No. T18.12 is a header code with more specific child codes; report one of the billable codes listed above.

What category does T18.12 belong to?

It belongs to category T18 – Foreign body in alimentary tract.

Source: CDC/NCHS ICD-10-CM FY2027 code files, tabular list and index. Reference only – code assignment must follow the official ICD-10-CM guidelines and documentation in the medical record.