Narrowing of the thoracic intervertebral foramina caused by bony overgrowth, osteophyte formation, or vertebral subluxation that mechanically compresses the exiting nerve roots in the thoracic spine.

Documentation tips

What should appear in the chart to support M99.62.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in 5 cited references ↓

• Specify the mechanism: document whether stenosis is osseous (osteophytes, facet hypertrophy, bone overgrowth) or from vertebral subluxation — vague 'foraminal stenosis' without mechanism may not support M99.62 over other M99.6x codes.
• Record imaging findings explicitly: CT or MRI evidence of foraminal narrowing at the thoracic level, including the specific vertebral levels involved (e.g., T6-T7), supports this code over an unspecified or lumbar alternative.
• Document the thoracic region by name; if the stenosis is at the thoracolumbar junction (T12-L1), note that M99.62 still applies — the index maps thoracolumbar foraminal stenosis here.
• Note any associated radicular symptoms (intercostal neuralgia, dermatomal chest wall or abdominal pain) that tie the diagnosis to the procedure being billed, especially for ESI or nerve block medical necessity.
• When submitting for interventional procedures covered under CMS LCDs (ESI, SCS, nerve block), confirm M99.62 appears as the primary or supporting diagnosis on the claim consistent with the relevant LCD's Group 1 code list.

Related CPT procedures

Procedure codes commonly billed with M99.62. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.

Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis

Common coding pitfalls

The recurring mistakes coders make with M99.62 and adjacent codes.

Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓

• Using M99.62 when stenosis is caused by disc herniation or connective tissue — that scenario requires M99.72 (connective tissue and disc stenosis of intervertebral foramina, thoracic region), not M99.62.
• Confusing foraminal stenosis (M99.62) with neural canal (central) stenosis — osseous stenosis of the thoracic neural canal is M99.32; these are anatomically distinct and not interchangeable.
• Dropping to M99.63 (lumbar) when the pathology is at the thoracolumbar junction (T12-L1); the ICD-10-CM index explicitly maps thoracolumbar foraminal stenosis to M99.62.
• Applying M99.62 without imaging or clinical documentation of osseous or subluxation etiology — unsupported specificity invites audit queries, particularly when the code is used to justify interventional pain procedures under CMS LCDs.

Clinical context

Source · Editorial summary grounded in 5 cited references ↓

Sibling codes

Other billable codes under M99.6 (laterality / anatomic variants).