ICD-10-CM Code For Other Appendicitis: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group K36 includes unspecified and other specified appendicitis diagnoses that reflect inflammatory conditions of the vermiform appendix not captured by more specific appendicitis codes. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document acute or other specified appendiceal inflammation, capturing clinical presentation and whether complications such as perforation or abscess are present or absent. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM K36 group supports proper claim adjudication and complete clinical documentation and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM K36: Other Appendicitis Overview

This code group represents acute and other specified forms of appendicitis affecting the vermiform appendix, a component of the gastrointestinal system. It covers inflammatory conditions of the appendix not classified elsewhere and includes presentations that may lack perforation or specific complications. Accurate coding matters for complete clinical documentation and supports appropriate payment determination and continuity of care.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when the clinical documentation indicates appendicitis that is specified as other or unspecified and does not fall under codes for perforated appendix or appendiceal abscess. Select these codes when the record lacks details required for assigning a more specific appendicitis code.

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
K36	Other appendicitis

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
393	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395	Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A young adult presents to the emergency department with 24 hours of worsening right lower quadrant abdominal pain, anorexia, low-grade fever, and localized tenderness with guarding on exam. Imaging (CT or ultrasound) shows inflammation isolated to the appendix without evidence of rupture or abscess, prompting surgical consultation and assignment of an acute appendiceal inflammation diagnosis from this group. Typical codes: K36
An older patient with multiple comorbidities reports intermittent, mild right lower quadrant discomfort over several weeks and is evaluated in primary care; imaging demonstrates chronic inflammatory changes of the appendix without acute signs, and the clinician documents a nonacute appendiceal inflammatory condition as the reason for outpatient monitoring or elective referral. Typical codes: K36
A patient is hospitalized for sepsis secondary to a perforated intra-abdominal infection; during workup, the appendix is identified as the source of ongoing localized appendiceal inflammation contributing to the intra-abdominal infection, and the appendiceal inflammatory condition is coded as a contributing diagnosis. Typical codes: K36

Related Codes

K35-ACUTE-APPENDICITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Appendicitis: Group Overview

K37-UNSPECIFIED-APPENDICITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Appendicitis: Group Overview

K38-OTHER-DISEASES-OF-APPENDIX

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Diseases Of Appendix: Group Overview

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-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
K36	Other appendicitis

DRG Codes

3 rows

DRG Code	Description
393	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with MCC
394	Other Digestive System Diagnoses with CC
395	Other Digestive System Diagnoses without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A young adult presents to the emergency department with 24 hours of worsening right lower quadrant abdominal pain, anorexia, low-grade fever, and localized tenderness with guarding on exam. Imaging (CT or ultrasound) shows inflammation isolated to the appendix without evidence of rupture or abscess, prompting surgical consultation and assignment of an acute appendiceal inflammation diagnosis from this group. Typical codes: K36
An older patient with multiple comorbidities reports intermittent, mild right lower quadrant discomfort over several weeks and is evaluated in primary care; imaging demonstrates chronic inflammatory changes of the appendix without acute signs, and the clinician documents a nonacute appendiceal inflammatory condition as the reason for outpatient monitoring or elective referral. Typical codes: K36
A patient is hospitalized for sepsis secondary to a perforated intra-abdominal infection; during workup, the appendix is identified as the source of ongoing localized appendiceal inflammation contributing to the intra-abdominal infection, and the appendiceal inflammatory condition is coded as a contributing diagnosis. Typical codes: K36

Related Codes

K35-ACUTE-APPENDICITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Acute Appendicitis: Group Overview

K37-UNSPECIFIED-APPENDICITIS

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Appendicitis: Group Overview

K38-OTHER-DISEASES-OF-APPENDIX

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Diseases Of Appendix: Group Overview

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-CM Code For Other Appendicitis: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM K36: Other Appendicitis Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Appendicitis: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Other Appendicitis: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM K36: Other Appendicitis Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnoses are included in the ICD-10-CM K36 group?

How does accurate coding within `K36` affect claims?

Are complications like perforation or abscess captured by `K36`?

Which DRGs are related to diagnoses in `K36`?

What clinical setting or anatomical area does `K36` pertain to?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

What diagnoses are included in the ICD-10-CM K36 group?

How does accurate coding within `K36` affect claims?

Are complications like perforation or abscess captured by `K36`?

Which DRGs are related to diagnoses in `K36`?

What clinical setting or anatomical area does `K36` pertain to?

References