ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) code group 0K54 includes procedures performed to destroy all or a portion of muscles in the tongue, palate, and pharynx. These ICD-10-PCS codes are used for inpatient documentation when destructive techniques such as thermal, cryo, chemical, or other agents are applied to eliminate diseased or obstructive muscle tissue in the oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal region. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-PCS 0K54 group is essential for proper inpatient reimbursement, as it captures the specific destructive procedure performed and supports clinical documentation accuracy.

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Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Destruction Procedure Overview

This procedure group includes destruction of all or a portion of muscles of the tongue, palate, and pharynx using energy, force, or destructive agents. These procedures target the muscular system within the oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal regions and are used to eliminate abnormal, diseased, or obstructive muscle tissue. Accurate coding matters for inpatient reimbursement because it documents the specific destructive intervention and supports appropriate case mix classification and payment.

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
K	Body System	Muscles
5	Operation	Destruction
4	Body Part	Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle

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ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

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Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

Character	ICD-10-PCS Category	Code Group Details
0	Section	Medical and Surgical
K	Body System	Muscles
5	Operation	Destruction
4	Body Part	Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a documented procedure intentionally destroys muscle tissue of the tongue, palate, or pharynx using methods such as thermal ablation, cryotherapy, chemical ablation, or other destructive techniques. Do not assign these codes for excision, repair, or non-destructive interventions affecting the same muscle tissue.

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0K540ZZ	Destruction of Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Open Approach
0K543ZZ	Destruction of Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Approach
0K544ZZ	Destruction of Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

15 rows

DRG Code	Description
500	Soft Tissue Procedures with MCC
501	Soft Tissue Procedures with CC
502	Soft Tissue Procedures without CC/MCC
579	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC
580	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with CC
581	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 15

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient with obstructive sleep apnea refractory to conservative measures (CPAP intolerance and failed oral appliances) is admitted for a planned surgical reduction of hypertrophic palatal and pharyngeal muscles contributing to airway collapse. The surgeon performs percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation of portions of the soft palate and pharyngeal musculature to reduce tissue bulk and improve airway patency. This elective inpatient procedure targets muscle destruction without formal excision. Typical codes: 0K543ZZ
An elderly patient presents emergently with progressive oropharyngeal bleeding from a necrotic base of tongue mass that is causing airway compromise and cannot be controlled endoscopically. In the operating room, the team performs open thermal destruction of involved tongue and adjacent pharyngeal muscle tissue to control hemorrhage and secure the airway. The destructive intervention is performed urgently to stop bleeding and stabilize the patient. Typical codes: 0K540ZZ
A middle-aged patient with recurrent symptomatic snoring and persistent palatal muscle bulk after prior palatoplasty undergoes revision therapy using percutaneous endoscopic cryoablation to target residual palatal and pharyngeal muscle tissue. The inpatient procedure is undertaken to destroy the remaining hypertrophic muscle contributing to symptoms after prior surgical repair. This is a revision/destructive technique rather than another excisional repair. Typical codes: 0K544ZZ

Related Codes

0K50-HEAD-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K51-FACIAL-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Facial Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K52-NECK-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Neck Muscle, Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K53-NECK-MUSCLE-LEFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Neck Muscle Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K55-SHOULDER-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K56-SHOULDER-MUSCLE-LEFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K57-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K58-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K59-LOWER-ARM-AND-WRIST-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K5B-LEFT-LOWER-ARM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 27

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-PCS Code	Description
0K540ZZ	Destruction of Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Open Approach
0K543ZZ	Destruction of Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Approach
0K544ZZ	Destruction of Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle, Percutaneous Endoscopic Approach

DRG Codes

15 rows

DRG Code	Description
500	Soft Tissue Procedures with MCC
501	Soft Tissue Procedures with CC
502	Soft Tissue Procedures without CC/MCC
579	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with MCC
580	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures with CC
581	Other Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast Procedures without CC/MCC
907	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with MCC
908	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries with CC
909	Other O.R. Procedures for Injuries without CC/MCC
957	Other O.R. Procedures for Multiple Significant Trauma with MCC

Showing 1–10 of 15

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An adult patient with obstructive sleep apnea refractory to conservative measures (CPAP intolerance and failed oral appliances) is admitted for a planned surgical reduction of hypertrophic palatal and pharyngeal muscles contributing to airway collapse. The surgeon performs percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation of portions of the soft palate and pharyngeal musculature to reduce tissue bulk and improve airway patency. This elective inpatient procedure targets muscle destruction without formal excision. Typical codes: 0K543ZZ
An elderly patient presents emergently with progressive oropharyngeal bleeding from a necrotic base of tongue mass that is causing airway compromise and cannot be controlled endoscopically. In the operating room, the team performs open thermal destruction of involved tongue and adjacent pharyngeal muscle tissue to control hemorrhage and secure the airway. The destructive intervention is performed urgently to stop bleeding and stabilize the patient. Typical codes: 0K540ZZ
A middle-aged patient with recurrent symptomatic snoring and persistent palatal muscle bulk after prior palatoplasty undergoes revision therapy using percutaneous endoscopic cryoablation to target residual palatal and pharyngeal muscle tissue. The inpatient procedure is undertaken to destroy the remaining hypertrophic muscle contributing to symptoms after prior surgical repair. This is a revision/destructive technique rather than another excisional repair. Typical codes: 0K544ZZ

Related Codes

0K50-HEAD-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Head Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K51-FACIAL-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Facial Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K52-NECK-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Neck Muscle, Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K53-NECK-MUSCLE-LEFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Neck Muscle Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K55-SHOULDER-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle Right: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K56-SHOULDER-MUSCLE-LEFT-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Shoulder Muscle Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K57-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K58-UPPER-ARM-MUSCLE-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Upper Arm Muscle, Left: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K59-LOWER-ARM-AND-WRIST-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

0K5B-LEFT-LOWER-ARM-DESTRUCTION

ICD-10-PCS Code For Left Lower Arm And Wrist Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

Showing 1–10 of 27

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-PCS Code For Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle: Procedure Code Group Overview policy alerts

Tongue, Palate, Pharynx Muscle Destruction Procedure Overview

Code Attributes

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the 0K54 ICD-10-PCS code group?

What is the clinical intent of procedures coded to 0K54?

Which ICD-10-PCS attributes define the 0K54 code group?

How does accurate coding in 0K54 affect inpatient reimbursement?

Which DRGs may relate to procedures coded in the 0K54 group?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-PCS Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which procedures are included in the 0K54 ICD-10-PCS code group?

What is the clinical intent of procedures coded to 0K54?

Which ICD-10-PCS attributes define the 0K54 code group?

How does accurate coding in 0K54 affect inpatient reimbursement?

Which DRGs may relate to procedures coded in the 0K54 group?

References