M46.32 Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical region

ICD-10-CM Code M46.32: Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic), cervical region

ICD-10-CM code M46.32 designates a pyogenic infection of the cervical intervertebral disc. This condition involves pathogens reaching the disc via the bloodstream, wounds, surgery, or accidents. The infection can spread to adjacent vertebral endplates and may present with nonspecific symptoms, making clinical recognition difficult. This code is billable and falls under inflammatory spondylopathies. 1 3 4

Plain-language overview

Intervertebral discs connect neighboring vertebrae and absorb pressure, but pathogens can enter these discs via small wounds, blood vessels, operations, or accidents, leading to inflammation and pain. [S4] 4

What this code represents

Code M46.32 represents a pyogenic infection of the intervertebral disc in the cervical region, categorized under Other inflammatory spondylopathies in Chapter 13 of the ICD-10-CM. [S3] 3

Coding details

In the referenced April 2026 data, M46.32 is presented as a billable and specific code with no child codes, no inclusion terms, and no "code first" or "use additional code" instructions. [S3] 3

Clinical context

Infections originating within the disc spread early to the two adjacent vertebral endplates via arterial anastomoses, and clinical recognition of pyogenic discitis is difficult due to nonspecific symptoms and a highly variable time course. [S1] 1

While haematogenous pyogenic spondylodiscitis preferentially affects the lumbar spine, the cervical spine is also involved, and severe cases carry a high risk of spinal cord compression. [S2] 2

Documentation considerations

Clinical documentation for this condition may detail the anatomical extent, as infections originating in the disc can involve the two adjacent vertebral endplates and extend into neighboring soft tissues or cause epidural abscesses. [S1] 1

What the sources add

Clinical literature describes pyogenic spondylodiscitis as an infection affecting the intervertebral disk or vertebral body, whereas the ICD-10-CM source specifically isolates the pyogenic cervical disc infection as a distinct billable diagnosis. [S2, S3] 2 3

The clinical sources provide operational context regarding the pathogen entry routes and anatomical spread of the infection, while the coding source establishes the exact hierarchical classification and billing specificity within the ICD-10-CM system. [S1, S3, S4] 1 3 4

Sources

1. Imaging in spinal infections: Current status and future directions — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
2. Surgical treatment of spondylodiscitis. An update — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; accessed 2026-07-25.
3. ICD-10-CM Code M46.32 | Vero — veroscribe.com; accessed 2026-07-25.
4. ICD-10 code: Infection of intervertebral disc (pyogenic) Cervical region — gesund.bund.de; accessed 2026-07-25.