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• Given the complexity of some concepts in the hierarchy, potential duplicate, erroneous, or outdated concepts will be identified.

Q4 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.

Q4 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.

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

9.

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

December 2026 International Release

10.

Disorder

Mental Health Project Group to Review Disorder Content

For further information please see here.

2026 International Releases

11.

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.

Project Update 27 August 2026

The attribute has now been created; however, its name and definition remain subject to refinement as part of the project. The initial work to create linkages between concepts in the Substance and Organism hierarchies, within the limited scope of microorganism nucleic acids and antigens, will be undertaken by Australia and will be subject to internal review and validation.

The attribute and the associated linkages will be promoted once the project work is complete and has been fully vetted.

2027 International Release