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esophageal dysphagia icd 10

Author

Sophia Aguilar

Updated on July 03, 2026

Esophageal dysphagia. Esophageal dysphagia refers to the sensation of food sticking or getting caught in the base of your throat or in your chest after you’ve started to swallow. Some of the causes of esophageal dysphagia include: Achalasia.

What is the ICD-10 diagnosis code for dysphagia?

Code R13. 10 is the diagnosis code used for Dysphagia, Unspecified. It is a disorder characterized by difficulty in swallowing. It may be observed in patients with stroke, motor neuron disorders, cancer of the throat or mouth, head and neck injuries, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

What is the difference between oropharyngeal dysphagia and esophageal dysphagia?

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is typically due to difficulty initiating a swallow and is generally due to structural, anatomic or neuromuscular abnormalities. Esophageal dysphagia arises after the swallow and causes include intrinsic structural pathology, extrinsic compression, or disruption in normal motility.

What is the ICD 10 code for oral dysphagia?

R13. 11, Dysphagia, oral phase.

What are the symptoms of esophageal dysphagia?

Symptoms of dysphagia
Choking when eating.Coughing or gagging when swallowing.Drooling.Food or stomach acid backing up into the throat.Recurrent heartburn.Hoarseness.Sensation of food getting stuck in the throat or chest, or behind the breastbone.Unexplained weight loss.

What can you do for esophageal dysphagia?

Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. Cut your food into smaller pieces, chew food thoroughly and eat more slowly. If you have difficulty swallowing liquids, there are products you can buy to thicken liquids. Trying foods with different textures to see if some cause you more trouble.

How do you code esophageal dysphagia?

Dysphagia, pharyngoesophageal phase

R13. 14 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2022 edition of ICD-10-CM R13. 14 became effective on October 1, 2021.

What is painful swallowing called?

“Odynophagia” is the medical term for painful swallowing. Pain can be felt in your mouth, throat, or esophagus. You may experience painful swallowing when drinking or eating food. Sometimes swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia, can accompany the pain, but odynophagia is often a condition of its own.

What is the ICD-10 code for painful swallowing?

10: Dysphagia, unspecified.

What is the most common cause of dysphagia?

Acid reflux disease is the most common cause of dysphagia. People with acid reflux may have problems in the esophagus, such as an ulcer, a stricture (narrowing of the esophagus), or less likely a cancer causing difficulty swallowing.

What is the best medicine for dysphagia?

Your gastroenterologist may prescribe corticosteroids, antacids, proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), and muscle relaxants to treat the cause of your esophageal dysphagia.

Can sinus problems cause dysphagia?

Sinus Issues and Difficulty Swallowing

Anything that agitates the throat or esophagus has the potential to lead to dysphagia, which means sinus problems can cause this symptom as well.

What is oral phase dysphagia?

Oral dysphagia refers to problems with using the mouth, lips and tongue to control food or liquid. Pharyngeal dysphagia refers to problems in the throat during swallowing. Dysphagia may lead to aspiration (where food or liquid gets into the lungs).

What is dysphagia oropharyngeal?

Oropharyngeal or transfer dysphagia is characterized by difficulty initiating a swallow. Swallowing may be accompanied by nasopharyngeal regurgitation, aspiration, and a sensation of residual food remaining in the pharynx.

What is the ICD-10 code for urinary retention?

ICD-10 | Retention of urine, unspecified (R33. 9)

What foods should you avoid with dysphagia?

It is important to avoid other foods, including:
Non-pureed breads.Any cereal with lumps.Cookies, cakes, or pastry.Whole fruit of any kind.Non-pureed meats, beans, or cheese.Scrambled, fried, or hard-boiled eggs.Non-pureed potatoes, pasta, or rice.Non-pureed soups.

Can esophageal dysphagia be cured?

Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with treatment, but a cure isn’t always possible. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques. changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.

Can dysphagia be caused by anxiety?

Some cases of dysphagia are due to structural abnormalities or disease, and some are considered functional, where there is no apparent physical cause. Psychiatric reasons for dysphagia include anxiety disorders, phobias, somatic symptom disorder, and more.