1.

Clinical Finding

Inactivation of Complication Disorder Concepts

The inactivation of concepts that reference “complication” without specifying the nature of the complication is ongoing. 

2026 International Releases

2.

Procedure

Review 48537004 |Bypass graft (procedure)| 

A review of the 48537004 |Bypass graft (procedure)| hierarchy is in progress, the focus is on:

• Improving consistency of descriptions.

• Improving definitions for different types of concepts in the hierarchy (bypass vs shunt)

• Correct use of the term “graft” within the descriptions.

• Correct modeling of 260686004 |Method (attribute)| in the hierarchy.

• Review of the need for 360021005 |Bypass - action (qualifier value)| and 424208002 |Shunt - action (qualifier value)|in the model and testing of 245854003 |Proximal anastomosis (qualifier value)| and 245855002 |Distal anastomosis (qualifier value)| as new 260686004 |Method (attribute)| values in the hierarchy.

• Review for a consistent and appropriate usage of 425362007 |Surgical insertion - action (qualifier value)|and 129407005 |Grafting - action (qualifier value) in the model.

• Review for re-classification of 129376004 |Construction - action (qualifier value)| as a direct subtype of 129284003 |Surgical action (qualifier value)|.

• Given the complexity of some concepts in the hierarchy, potential duplicate, erroneous, or outdated concepts will be identified.

Q3 2026 International Release

3.

Procedure

Review of 129376004 |Construction - action (qualifier value)|

129376004 |Construction - action (qualifier value)| is a subtype of 257903006 |Repair - action (qualifier value) and sibling of 129377008 |Reconstruction - action (qualifier value)|.

Because some concepts modeled with 129376004 |Construction - action (qualifier value)| as target value concept for 260686004 |Method (attribute)| may not be considered a reparative procedure, a review of the 129376004 |Construction - action (qualifier value) and 410614008 |Construction (procedure)| hierarchies is being undertaken.

Expected outcomes may be the classification of 129376004 |Construction - action (qualifier value)| directly under 129284003 |Surgical action (qualifier value)| and the creation of new actions that better define the differences between reparative and construction procedures.

2026 International Releases

4.

Association Relationships File

Additional Relationships

The new "additional relationships" take the same form as the inferred relationships and can be stored in the same format in the RF2 package. Modeling Advisory Group (MAG) recommends that extensions can use the existing relationship files or create new relationship files for them. By default, there is a single file for each component (1 concept file, 1 relationships file, 1 simple refset file, etc.). Edition and extension publishers can decide to split the content of any of those files for business reasons while following the naming convention. The new attributes should be placed under 1295449009 |Additional relationship attribute (attribute)|. The concept 900000000000227009 |Additional relationship (core metadata concept)| should be assigned to characteristicTypeId in the relationship files.

To be determined - 2026 International Releases

5.

Description Update

Inactivation and Replacement of Concepts Using "Arm" and "Leg" in the FSN 

Concepts that use "arm" or "leg" without qualification are ambiguous, as the anatomical site may be misinterpreted. 

Work has commenced on updating Disorder content. Following this, Finding and Procedure content will be managed as resourcing permits. 

2026 International Releases

6.

Clinical Finding

Morphologic Abnormality

Procedure

Situation with Explicit Context

Remodel 128928004 |Neuroendocrine neoplasm (morphologic abnormality)| and Subtypes

128928004 |Neuroendocrine neoplasm (morphologic abnormality)| its subtypes and related concepts in other hierarchies will be revised to align with the 5th edition of the WHO Blue Book chapter on Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumours as well as to SNOMED CT editorial guidance as part of the Histology Content Quality Group  Please see “Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) - PART 2” here for more information about these changes.

Please see the Histology Content Quality Group site here for more information about the groups’ mission.

Q3 2026 International Release

7.

ICD-O

Planned Deprecation of the SNOMED CT - ICD-O version 3.1 Morphological and Topography Maps

Please see briefing note here.

2026 International Release

8.

Description Length

Proposal to Increase the Character Limit for Descriptions

Please refer here for full summary of consultation.

Please see here for conclusion on increasing description type length limits.

April 2026 Update

Please see Transition plan for Description Type length limits

July 2026 International Release

9.

Clinical Finding

Changes to Hierarchy 198609003|Complication of pregnancy, childbirth and/or puerperium (disorder)|

A briefing note documenting the proposed changes for the hierarchy 198609003|Complication of pregnancy, childbirth and/or puerperium (disorder)| and descendants was shared with key stakeholders in May 2025. Feedback was received from a wide range of stakeholders.

The model for 198609003|Complication of pregnancy, childbirth and/or puerperium (disorder)| and subtypes will be updated in the international edition of SNOMED CT. The model will employ the attribute 246454002 |Occurrence (attribute)| with a value of 307159006|Pregnancy time period (qualifier value)| or a subtype. This work will aim to clarify the meaning of existing content by modeling concepts with either a maternal or fetal temporal period (and rarely both maternal and fetal).

The work will also inactivate a small number of supertype concepts such as 198609003|Complication of pregnancy, childbirth and/or puerperium (disorder)| and 362972006 |Disorder of labor / delivery (disorder)|) and utilize semantically clearer alternatives for example 1269083008 |Fetal intrapartum disorder and/or maternal disorder during intrapartum period| and 1269075002 |Maternal disorder during intrapartum period|.

Q3 2026 International Release

10.

Clinical Finding and Procedure

Planned Inactivation of Subtypes of 367570001|Fetal part (body structure)

 The concept model for fetal procedures and findings has been updated in the international edition of SNOMED CT. The model employs the attribute 246454002 |Occurrence (attribute)| with the value 303112003 |Fetal period (qualifier value)| and its subconcepts for modeling purposes. Finding and procedure sites have been revised to utilize canonical or morphological structures (excluding unique fetal structures) such as persistent or malformed structures. For example, concepts modeled with site 'fetal head structure' have had site replaced by 'head structure' in combination with 'fetal period' occurrence.

The 106 descendants of 367570001|Fetal part (body structure)| are currently under review. Non-unique fetal parts, such as ‘fetal head’, will be inactivated from the anatomy hierarchy. A briefing note will be published before the inactivation of anatomy content. National extensions should update the model for fetal findings and procedures to ensure consistent classification. If any subconcepts of 367570001|Fetal part (body structure)| are required for other use cases, please submit this information to info@snomed.org

2026 International Releases

11.

Organism

Review of 409793007|Antimicrobial resistant bacteria (organism)| and Descendants

409793007|Antimicrobial resistant bacteria (organism)| and descendants will be reviewed and content corrections made as appropriate.  The review will focus on:

• Aligning taxonomic lineages of resistant bacteria with those of bacterial (only) portions of the organisms hierarchy. Missing ranks including (and limited to) order, family, genus, species will be added as necessary.  Example:

  • The lineage of beta-lactam resistant Escherichia coli, beta-lactam resistant Escherichia (genus), beta-lactam-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (family), beta-lactam-resistant Enterobacterales (order).  

• Aligning organisms that are said to be resistant with corresponding antimicrobial substances hierarchy.  Example: 

  • Ampicillin < penicillin < beta-lactam

• Making the grammar and description style consistent throughout the hierarchy and compliant with the editorial style guide. The pattern “antimicrobial-resistant organism” will be maintained.  The antimicrobials themselves may be hyphenated.  

  • Examples: Ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli

2026 International Releases

12.

Disorder

Mental Health Project Group to Review Disorder Content

For further information please see here.

2026 International Releases

13.

New Attribute

Proposal to Create New Attribute to Link Substance Hierarchy to Organism Hierarchy

 Feedback is required on the level of support from the SNOMED community for the launch of a project – for further details please see this briefing note.

14.

Physical Object

Proposed Changes to 706437002 |Container (physical object)| and MRCM

Please see this briefing note.

2026 International Releases

15.

Disorder

Proposed Update for 91302008 |Sepsis (disorder)| and Descendants

Please see this updated briefing note.

2026 International Releases

16.

Morphologic Abnormality

Disorder

Use of ‘Tumor’ in Morphology and Disorder Concepts

Work is underway to review and address inconsistencies in the use of the term ‘tumor’ in SNOMED CT disorder concepts. 
The term tumor may refer to any mass (neoplastic or non-neoplastic); therefore, neoplasm is preferred, while tumor is acceptable as a synonym. Initial analysis has identified variation in usage. Some terms appropriately reflect histologic classifications (e.g. neuroendocrine tumors aligned with WHO Blue Books), while others appear to represent legacy, outdated, or inconsistent naming.
450 disorder concepts with tumor in their FSN are being examined and will be updated where appropriate. The work is being undertaken for this Content Tracker.

Q3 2026 International Release

17.

Clinical Finding

Revision of Requested, Done, Received, Planned Concepts

Work is underway to address inconsistent modelling of request- and workflow-related content currently represented under Clinical finding. Concepts representing requested procedures (e.g. domiciliary visit requested) are valid but will be aligned to the Situation with explicit context hierarchy. In contrast, concepts representing event status (e.g. done, received) reflect outdated naming patterns that are no longer accepted, and along with report status concepts represent administrative workflow rather than clinical meaning and will be inactivated.

• X visit done/received/planned (n=29): Inactivated (administrative workflow / event status)

• X visit requested (n=26): Moved to Situation with explicit context hierarchy, with supporting procedure concepts created

• X report status (n=50): Inactivated (administrative workflow content)

This work improves alignment with editorial policy and ensures appropriate separation of clinical meaning from administrative processes.

Q2-Q3 2026 International Release

18.

Observable Entity

LOINC Observable Entity Content Promotion

Observable entity concepts from the LOINC Ontology will be promoted to the International Release of SNOMED CT when needed to define clinical findings or when meeting the guidelines outlined in “Appendix C: Process for Addition of Observable Entity Content” of the Customer Guidance for Requesting Changes to SNOMED CT.

• An annotation with an attribution will be added to these concepts. The format has the name of the originating organization and a canonical representation of the URI: “Regenstrief Institute: http://loinc.org/code”. Example: Regenstrief Institute: http://loinc.org/88462-7 .

• Descriptions originating from LOINC, e.g., LOINC long common name, will be removed during the promotion. The PT will be updated from the LOINC long common name to a SNOMED CT compliant description.

Beginning June 2026 International Release

19.

Update Descriptions

Sulfate and Sulphate

The word sulfate has a GB alternative of sulphate. Sulphate with the 'ph' spelling will be added as a GB acceptable synonym (not acceptable US) for concepts with sulfate in the description for approximately 429 concepts.

July 2026 International Release

20.

Clinical Finding

Revision of Clinical Findings Defined by Ethanol

Please see this Informational Briefing Note.

Q3 2026 International Release

21.

Cell Structure

Addition of Human Gene Content

Human genes and their associated chromosome bands are being added to the International release of SNOMED CT in accordance with the specifications outlined in the briefing note circulated to the SNOMED Community. HGNC-approved names and symbols — along with previously used and alias symbols — are also being incorporated into gene concepts.

Gene additions will be prioritized based on known use cases, beginning with those required to support the ongoing development of the LOINC extension. Future use cases include support for molecular diagnostic findings and genetic disease modeling. Given the large number of genes involved, additions will be phased across multiple releases.

2026 International Releases

22.

Project Group

Formation of Radiology Project Group

Please see announcement here.

2026 - 2027 International Releases

23.

Qualifier Value

Inactivation of 303109001 |Pathogeneses (qualifier value)| Subhierarchy

The entire <<303109001 |Pathogeneses (qualifier value)| subhierarchy (19 concepts) will be inactivated with reason of "Nonconformance to editorial policy." Please see this Informational Briefing Note.

Q3 2026 International Release

24.

MRCM

Planned Change to MRCM Guide URL Fields

As part of ongoing maintenance of SNOMED CT Release Format 2 (RF2) artefacts, SNOMED International plans to change the way documentation references are represented within the Machine Readable Concept Model (MRCM) reference set files.

Historically, MRCM domain components have included a URL field (“Guide URL”) intended to direct users to supporting documentation. Over time, these links have proven difficult to maintain consistently across platform updates and content reorganisations. In addition, the structure and navigability of the SNOMED CT Editorial Guide has improved significantly, providing a more stable and comprehensive source for this material.

Following review, we have concluded that:

• The Editorial Guide already provides authoritative, up-to-date coverage of the relevant modeling guidance.

• The inclusion of per-domain URLs within MRCM files introduces an additional maintenance burden without clear long-term benefit.

• Removing these links reduces the risk of outdated or inconsistent references within RF2 distributions.

Planned change
The Guide URL fields within affected MRCM reference sets will be populated with empty values in the July 2026 (or later) International release.

Impact

• There is no impact on the logical interpretation or processing of MRCM content.

• Consumers who previously relied on these links should instead refer to the SNOMED CT Editorial Guide, which remains the primary source of SNOMED concept model documentation.

Rationale
This change is intended to improve consistency, reduce maintenance overhead, and ensure that users are directed toward a single, authoritative documentation source rather than distributed reference points that may become outdated over time. We welcome feedback from the community on this proposed change.

Q3 2026 International Release

25.

Deprecation Notice

Notice of Deprecation - Concept Non Current Indicators

International Edition 20270101

All existing (inactive) Concept Non Current Indicators will be removed from both Full and Snapshot files in the International release package, from the January 2027 release onwards. 

A new package will be created and added to the “Deprecated” folder in MLDS, containing the final state of all Concept Non Current Indicator records.

For further information please see here.

January 2027 International Release

26.

Clinical Finding

Inactivation of 309794002 |Finding of body product (finding) and 364684009 |Body product observable (observable entity)|

309794002 |Finding of body product (finding) and 364684009 |Body product observable (observable entity)| will be inactivated with reason non conformance to editorial policy.

Q3 2026 International Release

27.

Qualifer Value

Promotion of 685451010000100 |Measurement property (qualifier value)

685451010000100 |Measurement property (qualifier value)| is planned for promotion from the LOINC Extension to the International Release (IR). The subtype-supertype relationships of this concept in the LOINC Extension will also be promoted to the IR, e.g., 118594004 |Quantity concentration (property) (qualifier value)| Is a 685451010000100 |Measurement property (qualifier value)|. Some updates to the modeling of observable entity content is expected.
For more information, please see this informational briefing note.

August 2026 International Release

28.

Observable Entity

Improvements in Laboratory Content

Incremental improvements in the laboratory content in the observable entity hierarchy will be made starting with the June 2026 release, including:

1. Inactivation of vague and/or not clinically useful content, e.g., 414237002 |Feature of entity (observable entity)| and 396277003 |Fluid observable (observable entity)|

2. Defining existing content such as 85015001 |Blood viscosity (observable entity)|.

This will support the correct classification of current content as well as content being promoted from the LOINC Extension, and assist in modeling the measurement findings being added for the HPO Collaborative Project.

Beginning June 2026 and continuing in future International Releases

29.

Clinical Finding

Inactivation of Descriptions With (clinical)

44 disorder concepts include a description with "(clinical)" in it, e.g., 109988003 |Histiocytic sarcoma (disorder)| has PT “Histiocytic sarcoma (clinical).”

These descriptions will be inactivated as they do not conform to editorial policy.

July 2026 International Release

1.

Deprecation

Notice of Deprecation - Concept Non Current Indicators

Concept Non Current (CNC) indicators will be deprecated in the January 2026 International Edition of SNOMED CT. The plan is to stop adding these indicators to active descriptions when the concept they are attached to is made inactive. Additionally, all currently active CNC indicators will be made inactive. They will be left in place as inactive components. This deprecation is not expected to have any impact on existing SNOMED CT implementations but will instead simplify the product and reduce associated maintenance costs.

January 2026 International Release

Deprecation

Notice of Deprecation - Concept Non Current Indicators

Following on from the first stage of the Deprecation plan in January 2026 (please see above), the next phase will be implemented in January 2027.

The plan will be to completely remove the CNC indicators from the January 2027 International Edition release package. They will then be stored in an archived package in MLDS.

January 2027 International Release

2.

Situation with Explicit Context

Proposed Inactivation of <<443938003|Procedure carried out on subject (situation)|

Please see here

Update 30 October 2025

After consultation and review of the feedback received, these concepts will not be inactivated but instead remodeled to define them with their procedure hierarchy counterparts. 

January 2026 International Release

3.

Clinical Finding

Remodeling of Cirrhosis Disorder Concepts (~60 concepts)

The cirrhosis disorder concepts (~60) are currently modeled with two role groups:

1. 363698007 |Finding site (attribute)| with value 10200004 |Liver structure (body structure)| and 116676008 |Associated morphology (attribute)| with value of 64770007 |Nodular regeneration (morphologic abnormality)|;

2. 363698007 |Finding site (attribute)| with value 10200004 |Liver structure (body structure)| and 116676008 |Associated morphology (attribute)| with value of 57977008 |Chronic fibrosis (morphologic abnormality)|.

A new concept "Cirrhosis (morphologic abnormality)" will be created as a subtype of 64770007 |Nodular regeneration (morphologic abnormality) and 57977008 |Chronic fibrosis (morphologic abnormality)|.

This new concept will be used to remodel these disorder concepts, resulting in only one role group:

363698007 |Finding site (attribute)| with value 10200004 |Liver structure (body structure)| and 116676008 |Associated morphology (attribute)| with value new concept|Cirrhosis (morphologic abnormality). 

January 2026 International Release

4.

Qualifier Value

Rationalization of Units of Measure Concepts

A proposal originated from a DEUSG member (UK) and was presented and discussed at DEUSG between July and September 2025. Support was expressed by DEUSG members for rationalization of two overlapping sub-hierarchies:

• 732935002 |Unit of presentation (unit of presentation)|

• 408102007 |Unit dose (qualifier value)|.

The current drug model only uses Unit of presentation to model Clinical Drug concepts.

Please see this informational briefing note.

January 2026 International Release

5.

Procedure

Change to Angiography Procedure Hierarchy

As part of ongoing quality improvement work within the angiography procedure hierarchy, the concept 446030004 | Angiography using contrast (procedure) |has been reviewed and will be corrected.

The FSN of this concept does not specify arterial or venous angiography. However, the concept includes the synonym “Arteriography”, and procedure site 51114001 | Arterial structure (body structure) which is incorrect.

The modeling of 446030004 | Angiography using contrast (procedure) | will be updated to the more general 59820001 | Blood vessel structure (body structure) | to accurately reflect the FSN. The synonym “Arteriography” will be inactivated from this concept. A new arterial-specific concept will be added - Angiography of artery using contrast (procedure), to provide an explicit parent for arterial angiography procedures.

As a result of these changes, 446030004 | Angiography using contrast (procedure) | will subsumes a broader set of angiography procedures (increase from 599 to 1065 descendants). The new concept - Angiography of artery using contrast (procedure) | will subsume 599 arterial angiography procedures previously inferred under the general concept.

This change clarifies the distinction between angiography and arterial-specific angiography and supports more accurate querying and analytics.

January 2026 International Release

6.

Procedure

Add Procedure Approach to Model when Specified in the FSN

Concepts in the procedure hierarchy that could be modeled by 116688005 |Procedure approach (attribute)| will be updated to include the attribute with an appropriate value.

February 2026 International Release

7.

Content Improvement

Updates to the Inactivation Reason and Historical Association for 'On Examination' and 'Complaining of' Inactive Content

Many of the 'on examination' and 'complaining of' concepts were previously inactivated with the inactivation reason of |Moved elsewhere| with a historical association value |Extension Namespace 1000000|.

This content will be updated with an inactivation reason of |Non-conformance to editorial policy| and a historical association of |Alternative| to a suitable international concept. 

March 2026 International Release

8.

Clinical Finding

Review 408574004|Imaging result abnormal (finding)| and 408573005|Imaging result normal (finding)| and Descendants

These concepts are clinical findings and align with the editorial guide i.e. normal/abnormal observations, judgments, or assessments of patients. A finding site will be added to the concepts where appropriate (and not currently stated) so that the concepts classify as a subtype of the ‘finding of X anatomic structure’ concept where published.

For example

• 441914009 |Imaging of head abnormal (finding)|

• A finding site of 69536005 |Head structure (body structure)| will be added to classify as a subtype of 406122000 |Head finding (finding)|.

This will improve consistency and subsumption of the content as each concept will classify under the appropriate ‘Finding of body structure X’ parent where one is published. This work is being undertaken to complete content tracker IHTSDO-101.

March 2026 International Release

9.

Disorder

Review of 43275000 |Otitis (disorder)| and Descendants (298 concepts)

 Work is being undertaken to complete content tracker IHTSDO-773. Planned updates include:

• Modelling changes to ensure consistency, correct classification and to sufficiently define concepts where possible.

• A review of whether inflammation for <<65363002 |Otitis media (disorder)| concepts should be modeled with 14242009 |Tympanic mucosa structure (body structure)| as the finding site.

• A review of groupers e.g. 270490007 |Acute otitis media with effusion (disorder)|

• Inactivation of duplicate or ambiguous concepts.

• Inactivation of non-synonymous or erroneous synonyms.

March 2026 International Release

10.

Clinical finding

Inactivation of 86569001 |Postpartum state (finding)| and Subtypes

Concepts representing postpartum days lack a universally accepted definition that applies across all jurisdictions.  86569001|Postpartum state (finding)| and subtypes referring to days (e.g. 30118000|Postpartum period, 1 day (finding)|) will be inactivated and will be replaced with concepts that specify the time in hours.

The following concepts will also be inactivated:

16538005|Early postpartum state (finding)|

42814007|Mid postpartum state (finding)|

56026007|Late postpartum state (finding)|

The meaning of these concepts varies based on the jurisdiction and context, often depending on whether a calendar-day or an elapsed-time convention is employed. For instance, "Day one" is subject to different interpretations; while the most common clinical understanding is the first 24 hours after birth, some settings or jurisdictions use "Postpartum Day 0" when the birth occurs later in the calendar day.

March 2026 International Release

11.

Product

Update of Case Significance of Descriptions for Drug Related Content

Please see this informational briefing note for further details.

April 2026 International Release

12.

Procedure

Inactivation of Attention to <device> (procedure) Concepts

Approximately 80 procedure concepts with 'attention to' in the descriptions will be inactivated with reason ‘Nonconformance to editorial policy’ because they do not comply with the precoordination pattern here.

360147003 |Attention - action (qualifier value)| will also be inactivated.

April 2026 International Release

13.

Procedure

Stoma/Ostomy Care Procedures

Improvement in a small area of content related to stoma/ostomy care procedures. These changes include inactivation of << 1287775006 |Attention to stoma (procedure)| with reason ambiguous together with a review of <<385712009 |Ostomy care (regime/therapy)| and << 225194008 |Stoma care procedure (regime/therapy)| as the terms stoma and ostomy are used interchangeably when relating to care procedures. 

April 2026 International Release

14.

Historical Association

Update Inactive Concepts – WAS_A