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Z18.3

Z18.3: Retained organic fragments

Non-billable headerICD-10-CM

Z18.3 is a non-billable header ICD-10-CM code for retained organic fragments. It cannot be billed on its own: choose one of the more specific child codes below.

Excludes1 inherited from the categories above Z18.3

A category’s note binds every code beneath it.

Written on Z18: Retained foreign body fragments

  • artificial joint prosthesis status (Z96.6-)
  • foreign body accidentally left during a procedure (T81.5-)
  • foreign body entering through orifice (T15-T19)
  • in situ cardiac device (Z95.-)
  • organ or tissue replaced by means other than transplant (Z96.-, Z97.-)
  • organ or tissue replaced by transplant (Z94.-)
  • personal history of retained foreign body fully removed Z87.821
  • superficial foreign body (non-embedded splinter) - code to superficial foreign body, by site

Other codes that can never be billed with Z18.3

Their own Excludes1 notes name this code, so the conflict is not listed above.

  • Z03.82Encounter for observation for suspected foreign body ruled out

Risk adjustment

No CMS-HCC V28 category: this code does not change a RAF score.

Code history

Unchanged in every release from FY2024 to FY2027.

Code to one of these instead Z18.3

4 child codes. Green means billable.

Other codes under Z18

ICD-10-CMFY2027· effective October 1, 2026

Loaded directly from the CMS/NCHS ICD-10-CM public-domain release: see data sources and our editorial policy. If this page disagrees with the CMS tabular list, this page is wrong. Reference information for professional coders; not medical or billing advice.