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K21.9 — Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis
K21.9
What this code means
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is reflux of stomach acid into the gullet causing heartburn, without oesophagitis.
Also called: gerd, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease.
When this code is used
Used for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease without oesophagitis.
Where it sits in ICD-10-CM
Code K21.9 belongs to Chapter 11: Diseases of the digestive system, which covers codes K00–K95 in the FY2027 ICD-10-CM tabular list. The official description above is copied verbatim from the CDC/NCHS FY2027 code file.
Related symptoms
Related anatomy
Watch: related videos
Frequently asked questions
What is ICD-10-CM code K21.9?
K21.9 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for “Gastro-esophageal reflux disease without esophagitis”. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is reflux of stomach acid into the gullet causing heartburn, without oesophagitis.
When is code K21.9 used?
Used for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease without oesophagitis. It belongs to Chapter 11 of ICD-10-CM (Diseases of the digestive system).
This guide explains ICD-10-CM codes in plain language for patients, students and other readers. It is educational information only — not coding, billing or medical advice. The code recorded for any real encounter is assigned from the full clinical documentation by the treating team and qualified coders, and only they can decide which code fits a specific case.