ICD-10 Code K20.81 – Other esophagitis with bleeding (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K20.81 – Other esophagitis with bleeding
What it is
K20.81 identifies esophagitis that is not otherwise classified and is documented with bleeding. Use it when the record clearly states both inflammation of the esophagus and bleeding.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly documented findings may include esophageal inflammation with evidence of bleeding, such as hematemesis, melena, or endoscopic bleeding from the esophagus.
When to use this code
Use K20.81 when the provider documents other esophagitis and specifically links it to bleeding. This may appear in endoscopy reports, discharge summaries, or problem lists when the diagnosis is confirmed. If bleeding is mentioned without esophagitis, or esophagitis is described without bleeding, check documentation before assigning this code.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for esophagitis without bleeding, or for bleeding from another gastrointestinal source. If the chart does not specify the type of esophagitis, check documentation.
Coding tip
Verify that both “other esophagitis” and “with bleeding” are documented before coding K20.81.