ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group N26 includes diagnoses for contracted kidney, such as unspecified contracted kidney and other codes describing a small or shrunken kidney due to chronic kidney disease, ischemia, or scarring. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document chronic loss of renal mass, unilateral or bilateral renal contraction, and the clinical complexity of reduced renal function associated with structural shrinkage. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM N26 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

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ICD-10-CM N26: Unspecified Contracted Kidney Overview

The ICD-10-CM N26 group represents diagnoses for contracted kidney, including unspecified contracted kidney and related chronic reduction in renal size. These codes target the renal system and conditions leading to a small, shrunken kidney often from chronic disease or ischemia. Accurate coding matters for appropriate claim adjudication and to reflect chronicity and organ involvement for care coordination.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when documentation indicates a contracted or shrunken kidney without a more specific etiology recorded, or when the clinical record describes reduced renal size as the primary diagnosis. Select the most specific code available if later documentation specifies laterality, underlying cause, or associated renal function impairment.

ICD-10-CM Codes

3 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
N26.1	Atrophy of kidney (terminal)
N26.2	Page kidney
N26.9	Renal sclerosis, unspecified

DRG Codes

5 rows

DRG Code	Description
304	Hypertension with MCC
305	Hypertension without MCC
698	Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC
699	Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC
700	Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with long-standing diabetes and hypertension presents for routine nephrology follow-up with progressive loss of kidney size on serial imaging, poor renal function progression but no history of surgical kidney removal or clear congenital cause; the clinician documents a shrunken, nonfunctioning kidney presumed secondary to chronic ischemic and scarring changes and assigns a code from this group for an unspecified contracted kidney. Typical codes: N26.9
A middle-aged patient arrives to the emergency department after blunt abdominal trauma; imaging shows marked involution and scarring of one kidney without prior records of congenital anomaly, and the treating team documents contracted kidney as the likely cause of reduced renal reserve complicating management of the acute injury. Typical codes: N26.2, N26.9
A pediatric patient with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections and vesicoureteral reflux is evaluated for growth failure and asymmetry on renal ultrasound demonstrating a small, poorly functioning kidney; the chronic contracted appearance is documented as the reason for decreased differential renal function and guides follow-up. Typical codes: N26.1, N26.9

ICD-10-CM Code For Disorders Resulting From Impaired Renal Tubular Function: Group Overview

N27-SMALL-KIDNEY-OF-UNKNOWN-CAUSE

ICD-10-CM Code For Small Kidney Of Unknown Cause: Group Overview

N28-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-KIDNEY-AND-URETER

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Kidney And Ureter: Group Overview

N29-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-KIDNEY-AND-URETER

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Kidney And Ureter In Diseases Classified Elsewhere: 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

3 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
N26.1	Atrophy of kidney (terminal)
N26.2	Page kidney
N26.9	Renal sclerosis, unspecified

DRG Codes

5 rows

DRG Code	Description
304	Hypertension with MCC
305	Hypertension without MCC
698	Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with MCC
699	Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses with CC
700	Other Kidney and Urinary Tract Diagnoses without CC/MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An elderly patient with long-standing diabetes and hypertension presents for routine nephrology follow-up with progressive loss of kidney size on serial imaging, poor renal function progression but no history of surgical kidney removal or clear congenital cause; the clinician documents a shrunken, nonfunctioning kidney presumed secondary to chronic ischemic and scarring changes and assigns a code from this group for an unspecified contracted kidney. Typical codes: N26.9
A middle-aged patient arrives to the emergency department after blunt abdominal trauma; imaging shows marked involution and scarring of one kidney without prior records of congenital anomaly, and the treating team documents contracted kidney as the likely cause of reduced renal reserve complicating management of the acute injury. Typical codes: N26.2, N26.9
A pediatric patient with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections and vesicoureteral reflux is evaluated for growth failure and asymmetry on renal ultrasound demonstrating a small, poorly functioning kidney; the chronic contracted appearance is documented as the reason for decreased differential renal function and guides follow-up. Typical codes: N26.1, N26.9

ICD-10-CM Code For Disorders Resulting From Impaired Renal Tubular Function: Group Overview

N27-SMALL-KIDNEY-OF-UNKNOWN-CAUSE

ICD-10-CM Code For Small Kidney Of Unknown Cause: Group Overview

N28-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-KIDNEY-AND-URETER

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Kidney And Ureter: Group Overview

N29-OTHER-DISORDERS-OF-KIDNEY-AND-URETER

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Disorders Of Kidney And Ureter In Diseases Classified Elsewhere: 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 Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM N26: Unspecified Contracted Kidney Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM N26: Unspecified Contracted Kidney Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

References

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM N26: Unspecified Contracted Kidney Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Contracted Kidney: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM N26: Unspecified Contracted Kidney Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-CM codes are included in the N26 group?

What clinical scenarios does ICD-10-CM N26 describe?

How does accurate coding within N26 affect billing and reimbursement?

Which related DRGs are associated with the N26 diagnosis group?

What documentation elements are implied as important when coding N26 diagnoses?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

Which ICD-10-CM codes are included in the N26 group?

What clinical scenarios does ICD-10-CM N26 describe?

How does accurate coding within N26 affect billing and reimbursement?

Which related DRGs are associated with the N26 diagnosis group?

What documentation elements are implied as important when coding N26 diagnoses?

References