ICD10BillableValid for clinical use
ICD-10 Code M46.33: Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervicothoracic region
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026
What is this code?
ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
šClinical overview
This ICD-10 code is commonly used when documentation describes pyogenic infection of an intervertebral disc. The most accurate code depends on the affected spinal region and whether one or multiple spinal sites are documented.
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervicothoracic region in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.
What it does not mean
- A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
- A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
š©ŗClinical context
When commonly used
- Inpatient, infectious-disease, orthopedic-spine, rehabilitation, and utilization-review workflows where pyogenic spinal disc infection is part of the documented problem list.
- Coding workflows where the record supports pyogenic intervertebral-disc infection and the final code changes based on spinal region or multiple-site involvement.
Common management context
- Evaluation often includes back-pain and neurologic-symptom review, inflammatory or infectious workup context, spine imaging, and coordination of antimicrobial and specialty follow-up.
- Documentation usually becomes more specific when the chart identifies the exact spinal region, whether infection involves one or multiple spinal sites, and any associated spinal or infectious findings.
- Specialist context already linked on this page includes Orthopedic Specialist, Rheumatologist, Infectious Disease Specialist.
šKey distinctions
Important notes
- These ICD-10 codes are reserved for pyogenic infection of an intervertebral disc rather than noninfectious spinal disorders or vertebral fracture branches.
- Spinal-region and multiple-site detail drive most of the code specificity inside this family.
- Spinal-region detail matters here because upper cervical, cervical, cervicothoracic, thoracic, thoracolumbar, lumbar, lumbosacral, and sacral-coccygeal disc infection patterns are coded separately when the chart names the affected region more specifically.
- Documentation that describes pyogenic infection of an intervertebral disc is coded differently from noninfectious spinal disorders, vertebral fracture patterns, or other osteomyelitis contexts.
Related codes to consider
M46.30Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), site unspecified
Related spinal-infection ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, multiple-site versus single-site infection pattern, pyogenic versus noninfectious context, or another vertebral condition.
M46.31Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), occipito-atlanto-axial region
Related spinal-infection ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, multiple-site versus single-site infection pattern, pyogenic versus noninfectious context, or another vertebral condition.
M46.32Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical region
Related spinal-infection ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, multiple-site versus single-site infection pattern, pyogenic versus noninfectious context, or another vertebral condition.
M46.34Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracic region
Related spinal-infection ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies the spinal region, multiple-site versus single-site infection pattern, pyogenic versus noninfectious context, or another vertebral condition.
Code hierarchy
chapter
13Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
block
M40-M54Dorsopathies
block
M45-M49Spondylopathies
category
M46Other inflammatory spondylopathies
category
M46.3Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic)
currentM46.3
Where you may see this code
You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.
Related specialists
Orthopedic SpecialistRheumatologistInfectious Disease Specialist
Related codes
M46.30Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), site unspecifiedcodeM46.31Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), occipito-atlanto-axial regioncodeM46.32Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical regioncodeM46.34Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracic regioncodeM46.35Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracolumbar regioncodeM46.36Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar regioncodeM46.37Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbosacral regioncodeM46.38Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), sacral and sacrococcygeal regioncodeM46.39Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), multiple sites in spinecode
Sibling codes
M46.30Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), site unspecifiedbillableM46.31Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), occipito-atlanto-axial regionbillableM46.32Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical regionbillableM46.34Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracic regionbillableM46.35Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), thoracolumbar regionbillableM46.36Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbar regionbillableM46.37Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), lumbosacral regionbillableM46.38Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), sacral and sacrococcygeal regionbillableM46.39Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), multiple sites in spinebillable
Coverage-related procedures and services
CPT 22554high
ARTHRODESIS, ANTERIOR INTERBODY TECHNIQUE, INCLUDING MINIMAL DISCECTOMY TO PREPARE INTERSPACE (OTHER THAN FOR DECOMPRESSION); CERVICAL BELOW C2
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 22551high
ARTHRODESIS, ANTERIOR INTERBODY, INCLUDING DISC SPACE PREPARATION, DISCECTOMY, OSTEOPHYTECTOMY AND DECOMPRESSION OF SPINAL CORD AND/OR NERVE ROOTS; CERVICAL BELOW C2
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 22552high
ARTHRODESIS, ANTERIOR INTERBODY, INCLUDING DISC SPACE PREPARATION, DISCECTOMY, OSTEOPHYTECTOMY AND DECOMPRESSION OF SPINAL CORD AND/OR NERVE ROOTS; CERVICAL BELOW C2, EACH ADDITIONAL INTERSPACE (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODE FOR PRIMARY PROCEDURE)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 22548high
ARTHRODESIS, ANTERIOR TRANSORAL OR EXTRAORAL TECHNIQUE, CLIVUS-C1-C2 (ATLAS-AXIS), WITH OR WITHOUT EXCISION OF ODONTOID PROCESS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 22600high
ARTHRODESIS, POSTERIOR OR POSTEROLATERAL TECHNIQUE, SINGLE INTERSPACE; CERVICAL BELOW C2 SEGMENT
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 22595high
ARTHRODESIS, POSTERIOR TECHNIQUE, ATLAS-AXIS (C1-C2)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
Mapped diagnoses and classifications
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Legacy and official ICD code match exactly.
Legacy codes
M46.33
Common synonyms
Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervicothoracic regionInfection of intervertebral discInfection of intervertebral disc pyogenic, cervicothoracic region
Frequently asked questions
About this content
This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.