ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N28.9 - Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified (original) (raw)

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ICD List 2025-2026 Edition

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Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:

N28.9

ICD-10 Code for:

Disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified

Is Billable?

Yes - Valid for Submission

Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]

Not chronic

Code Navigator:

N28.9 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of disorder of kidney and ureter, unspecified. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like N28.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

  1. Code Information
  2. Approximate Synonyms
  3. Clinical Classification
  4. Clinical Information
  5. Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
  6. Index to Diseases and Injuries References
  8. Diagnostic Related Groups Mapping
  9. Convert to ICD-9 Code
  10. Patient Education
  11. Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
  12. Code History

The following list of clinical terms are approximate synonyms, alternative descriptions, or common phrases that might be used by patients, healthcare providers, or medical coders to describe the same condition. These synonyms and related diagnosis terms are often used when searching for an ICD-10 code, especially when the exact medical terminology is unclear. Whether you're looking for lay terms, similar diagnosis names, or common language alternatives, this list can help guide you to the correct ICD-10 classification.

Clinical Classifications group individual ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes into broader, clinically meaningful categories. These categories help simplify complex data by organizing related conditions under common clinical themes.

They are especially useful for data analysis, reporting, and clinical decision-making. Even when diagnosis codes differ, similar conditions can be grouped together based on their clinical relevance. Each category is assigned a unique CCSR code that represents a specific clinical concept, often tied to a body system or medical specialty.

CCSR Code: GEN006

Inpatient Default: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Outpatient Default: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

a biochemical abnormality referring to an elevation of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. azotemia can be produced by kidney diseases or other extrarenal disorders. when azotemia becomes associated with a constellation of clinical signs, it is termed uremia.

abrupt reduction in kidney function. acute kidney injury encompasses the entire spectrum of the syndrome including acute kidney failure; acute kidney tubular necrosis; and other less severe conditions.

conditions in which the kidneys perform below the normal level in the ability to remove wastes, concentrate urine, and maintain electrolyte balance; blood pressure; and calcium metabolism. renal insufficiency can be classified by the degree of kidney damage (as measured by the level of proteinuria) and reduction in glomerular filtration rate.

conditions in which the kidneys perform below the normal level for more than three months. chronic kidney insufficiency is classified by five stages according to the decline in glomerular filtration rate and the degree of kidney damage (as measured by the level of proteinuria). the most severe form is the end-stage renal disease (chronic kidney failure). (kidney foundation: kidney disease outcome quality initiative, 2002)

a condition that is characterized by the presence of generalized edema. causes include congestive heart failure, liver failure, renal failure, and severe malnutrition.

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

References found for this diagnosis code in the External Cause of Injuries Index:

Below are the ICD-9 codes that most closely match this ICD-10 code, based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs). This ICD-10 to ICD-9 crosswalk tool is helpful for coders who need to reference legacy diagnosis codes for audits, historical claims, or approximate code comparisons.

ICD-9-CM: 593.9

Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means this ICD-10 code does not have an exact ICD-9 equivalent. The matched code is the closest available option, but it may not fully capture the original diagnosis or clinical intent.

Kidney Diseases

You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. They are near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney there are about a million tiny structures called nephrons. They filter your blood. They remove wastes and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters. It goes to your bladder, which stores the urine until you go to the bathroom.

Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons. This damage may leave kidneys unable to remove wastes. Causes can include genetic problems, injuries, or medicines. You have a higher risk of kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a close family member with kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease damages the nephrons slowly over several years. Other kidney problems include:

Your doctor can do blood and urine tests to check if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Ureteral Disorders

Your kidneys make urine by filtering wastes and extra water from your blood. The urine travels from the kidneys to the bladder in two thin tubes called ureters.

The ureters are about 8 to 10 inches long. Muscles in the ureter walls tighten and relax to force urine down and away from the kidneys. Small amounts of urine flow from the ureters into the bladder about every 10 to 15 seconds.

Sometimes the ureters can become blocked or injured. This can block the flow of urine to the bladder. If urine stands still or backs up the ureter, you may get a urinary tract infection.

Doctors diagnose problems with the ureters using different tests. These include urine tests, x-rays, and examination of the ureter with a scope called a cystoscope. Treatment depends on the cause of the problem. It may include medicines and, in severe cases, surgery.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Helping Your Child Adapt to Life with Chronic Kidney Disease

Overview of ways in which parents and other adults can help children with kidney disease overcome the daily challenges of living with a chronic illness.
[Learn More in MedlinePlus]