J39.0 Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Acts as a Complication or Comorbidity (CC) as a secondary diagnosis.

Applicable to

• Peripharyngeal abscess

Excludes1 (never code together)

• peritonsillar abscess (J36)

Applies from J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract

Excludes1 (never code together)

• acute respiratory infection NOS (J22)
• acute upper respiratory infection (J06.9)
• upper respiratory inflammation due to chemicals, gases, fumes or vapors (J68.2)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 011-013 in MDC PRE.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 478.22 Parapharyngeal abscess (approximate)
• 478.24 Retropharyngeal abscess (approximate)

Code annotations containing back-references to J39.0

Back-references to J39.0

• Type 1 Excludes: J02 Acute pharyngitis ("retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)")
• Type 1 Excludes: J36 Peritonsillar abscess ("retropharyngeal abscess (J39.0)")

Diagnosis Index entries for J39.0

• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) › parapharyngeal
• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) › peripharyngeal
• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) › postpharyngeal
• Abscess (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic) › retropharyngeal

Nearby codes

• J39 Other diseases of upper respiratory tract
• J39.0 Retropharyngeal and parapharyngeal abscess (this code)
• J39.1 Other abscess of pharynx
• J39.2 Other diseases of pharynx
• J39.3 Upper respiratory tract hypersensitivity reaction, site unspecified
• J39.8 Other specified diseases of upper respiratory tract
• J39.9 Disease of upper respiratory tract, unspecified