2025 ICD-10-CM code T17.0
The presence of a foreign body lodged within the nasal sinus.
Medical necessity is established by the presence of a foreign body within the nasal sinus causing symptoms or posing a risk of complications.Treatment is directed at removing the foreign body and managing any resulting inflammation or infection.
Clinicians should document the type of foreign body, the affected sinus, and any associated symptoms or complications.Removal procedures should also be documented with appropriate procedure codes.If the foreign body is a mucous plug it is part of the same diagnosis and is not coded separately.
In simple words: Something is stuck in your sinuses.
This code describes a condition where a foreign object has entered and remains lodged in one or more of the paranasal sinuses. These sinuses are air-filled spaces within the facial bones surrounding the nasal cavity.
Example 1: A child inserts a small toy into their nostril, and it becomes lodged in the maxillary sinus., Following a dental procedure, a piece of dental filling material migrates into the nasal sinus., A patient develops a chronic sinus infection due to a retained mucus plug in the ethmoid sinus, this would be coded as the sinus infection, not T17.0
Documentation should include details about the foreign body (if identifiable), the affected sinus, the method of entry (if known), duration, associated symptoms (e.g., pain, congestion, discharge, difficulty breathing), and any complications (e.g., infection, inflammation). Imaging studies confirming the presence and location of the foreign body are essential.
** For cases where the foreign body has entered through a natural orifice, an additional code from category W44.- may be used if known.
- Specialties:Otolaryngology (ENT), Emergency Medicine
- Place of Service:Office, Emergency Room - Hospital,Inpatient Hospital, Ambulatory Surgical Center, Outpatient Hospital