Congenital pharyngeal pouch

This code describes a congenital anomaly characterized by an abnormal sac-like protrusion or diverticulum originating from the pharynx. This malformation is present at birth and results from incomplete obliteration of embryonic pharyngeal arches or clefts.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a diagnosis of a congenital pharyngeal pouch. This typically includes findings from imaging studies (e.g., barium swallow, CT scan) or endoscopic examination confirming the presence of a diverticulum in the pharyngeal region that is present from birth.

• Differentiate from acquired pharyngeal diverticula, such as Zenker's diverticulum, which are not congenital.
• Ensure documentation specifies "congenital" to support this code.
• Do not code with D82.1 (pharyngeal pouch syndrome), as per the Excludes1 note.