Q38.5 Congenital malformations of palate, not elsewhere classified

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026. Exempt from present-on-admission (POA) reporting.

Applicable to

• Congenital absence of uvula
• Congenital malformation of palate NOS
• Congenital high arched palate

Excludes1 (never code together)

• cleft palate (Q35.-)
• cleft palate with cleft lip (Q37.-)

Applies from Q38 Other congenital malformations of tongue, mouth and pharynx

Excludes1 (never code together)

• dentofacial anomalies (M26.-)
• macrostomia (Q18.4)
• microstomia (Q18.5)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 393-395 in MDC 06.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• 750.9 Unspecified anomaly of upper alimentary tract (approximate)

Diagnosis Index entries for Q38.5

• Absence (of) (organ or part) (complete or partial) › uvula, congenital
• Agenesis › uvula
• Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › palate (hard) (soft) NEC
• Anomaly, anomalous (congenital) (unspecified type) › uvula
• Deformity › palate (congenital)
• Deformity › uvula (congenital)
• Flaccid › palate, congenital
• High › arch › palate, congenital
• High › palate, congenital
• Malformation (congenital) › palate
• Short, shortening, shortness › palate, congenital
• Short, shortening, shortness › uvula, congenital

Nearby codes

• Q38.0 Congenital malformations of lips, not elsewhere classified
• Q38.1 Ankyloglossia
• Q38.2 Macroglossia
• Q38.3 Other congenital malformations of tongue
• Q38.4 Congenital malformations of salivary glands and ducts
• Q38.5 Congenital malformations of palate, not elsewhere classified (this code)
• Q38.6 Other congenital malformations of mouth
• Q38.7 Congenital pharyngeal pouch
• Q38.8 Other congenital malformations of pharynx