1.

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

2.

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

3.

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• Given the complexity of some concepts in the hierarchy, potential duplicate, erroneous, or outdated concepts will be identified.

Q2 2026 International Release

4.

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.

Q2 2026 International Release

5.

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

6.

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

7.

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.

Q1 2026 International Release

8.

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

9.

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.

July 2026 International Release

10.

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|.

Q2 2026 International Release

11.

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

12.

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

Q1 2026 International Release

13.

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

14.

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.

Q1 2026 International Release

15.

Product

Update of Case Significance of Descriptions for Drug Related Content

Please see this informational briefing note for further details.

April 2026 International Release

16.

Clinical Finding

Inactivation of Content for End Stage Renal Disease

Please see this Informational Briefing Note

Q1 2026 International Release

17.

Disorder

Mental Health Project Group to Review Disorder Content

For further information please see here.

2026 International Releases

18.

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.

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.

For further information please see here.

January 2026 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

5.

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

1.

General Information

Browse Content Changes for the International Release

For content changes that are ready for publication in the next release please browse here - 'Authoring changes since last release'

Concept Inactivation

For concept inactivations that are for publication in the next release please browse here - 'Authoring changes since last release'

MRCM Changes

Forthcoming MRCM changes can be viewed here

Content Request Service (CRS)

For information please see here

2.

Briefing Notes

Briefing notes are available for review here.