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• Given the complexity of some concepts in the hierarchy, potential duplicate, erroneous, or outdated concepts will be identified.

Q2-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.

Q2-Q3 2026 International Release

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.

Q2-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|.

Q2-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.

Clinical Finding

Inactivation of Content for End Stage Renal Disease

Please see this Informational Briefing Note

Q2-Q3 2026 International Release

13.

Disorder

Mental Health Project Group to Review Disorder Content

For further information please see here.

2026 International Releases

14.

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.

15.

Physical Object

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

Please see this briefing note.

2026 International Releases

16.

Disorder

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

Please see this briefing note.

2026 International Releases

17.

Disorder

Changes to Obesity and Central Obesity

Following review and agreement within the Nutrition & Dietetics Clinical Reference Group, this briefing note informs the SNOMED community of planned modeling updates to concepts relating to obesity and central obesity.

The changes address identified clinical inaccuracies and align SNOMED CT with internationally accepted definitions and usage.

Further information can be found here.

May 2026 International Release

18.

Procedure

Changes to Stoma Procedure Concepts

A review and remodeling of 75506009 |Construction of stoma (procedure)| will be undertaken, changes to the model and terming patterns will be implemented as follows:

1. The Construction role group will be substituted with the Exteriorization role group

• 260686004 |Method (attribute)| = 129354008 |Exteriorization - action (qualifier value)|

• 405813007 |Procedure site - Direct (attribute)| = < 123037004 |Body structure (body structure)|

• 363700003 |Direct morphology (attribute)| = << 245857005 |Stoma (morphologic abnormality)|

• 116688005 |Procedure approach (attribute)| = < 103379005 |Procedural approach (qualifier value)|

2. 417392003 |Construction of external stoma (procedure)| will be inactivated based on the definition of “STOMA”, which is always external: “ surgically created artificial opening on the abdominal wall that connects a body structure to the skin”.

3. 272727007 |Internal stoma (morphologic abnormality)| will be inactivated: “surgically created internal anastomoses or connections between two internal organs (such as a surgical entero-enterostomy or uretero-enterostomy, are not termed "stomas" in the current surgical or gastroenterological lexicon)”. The use of "stoma" is reserved for externalized openings, as supported by the medical literature”. Procedures modeled with 272727007 |Internal stoma (morphologic abnormality, will be modeled with << 257741005 |Anastomosis - action (qualifier value)| and 41796003 |Anastomosis (morphologic abnormality)|

4. When the site for the exteriorization is stated, e.g. 26993008 |Abdominal esophagostomy (procedure)|, the procedures will be modeled with 116688005 |Procedure approach (attribute)| = < 103379005 |Procedural approach (qualifier value)|

5. Naming pattern for the Stoma concepts will follow -  “X [Body structure] – ostomy. Stoma procedures currently termed “Creation”/ “Construction” / “Formation” of X [Body structure] – stoma, will follow the pattern: “X [Body structure] – ostomy.

6. Where the current FSN is “Construction x [Body structure] -ostomy”, that description will be kept as an Acceptable synonym. FSN with pattern: “Creation of X-ostomy” and/or “Formation of x-ostomy”, will be inactivated as synonyms.

7. When the FSN states a combination of procedures, the concept will be termed using the conjunction “WITH”. e.g. 89642006 |Anterior resection of rectum with colostomy (procedure)|, 307658004 |Sigmoid colectomy with colostomy (procedure)|

8. When an FSN states the combination of more than two procedures, the naming pattern will be:

• For the first two procedures the conjunction “WITH” and for the third procedure the conjunction “AND”. e.g. 44751009 |Total abdominal colectomy with proctectomy and continent ileostomy (procedure)|

9. “Take -down of X stoma” will become an acceptable synonym and the new FSN and PT will follow the pattern: “Closure of X [Body structure] – ostomy”.

Q2 2026 International Release

19.

Clinical Finding

Review of 397578001 |Device in situ (finding)| and Descendants

The value for Has interpretation relationship on the concepts  << 397578001 |Device in situ (finding)| hierarchy will be updated from 52101004 |Present (qualifier value)| to 264031007 |In situ (qualifier value)|. The presence of a device does not mean it is in its natural or original position, which is the meaning of in situ.

The concept 264031007 |In situ (qualifier value)| will be made a subtype of 52101004 |Present (qualifier value). Concepts where descriptions use both the terms 'present' and 'in situ,' will be reviewed with creation of new concepts to represent both meanings, as required. The concept model for this hierarchy will also be reviewed and updates made as required.  

Q2 2026 International Release

20.

Historical Association

Update Inactive Concepts – WAS_A

224 concepts inactivated using the WAS_A inactivation reason are under review. The inactivation reason will be updated to one of the current allowed reasons, and the historical association value will also be updated where needed.

Completion for May 2026 International Release

21.

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.

Q2/Q3 2026 International Release

22.

Organism

Clinical Finding

1395845006 |Genus Borreliella (organism)|

A new concept for genus Borreliella will be added. Current subtypes of 112277009 |Genus Borrelia (organism)| will be reviewed. Subtypes will be renamed and reassigned to the newly added genus Borreliella, where appropriate. Genus Borreliella with have the additional descriptions of 'Lyme disease Borrelia' and 'Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex’. Descriptions of impacted clinical finding concepts will also be updated.

May 2026 International Release

23.

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 2026 International Release

24.

Substance

LOINC Substance Content Promotion

The LOINC Ontology project team has developed approximately 70 new substance concepts in the LOINC extension for immunoglobulins to align with associated LOINC parts, e.g., 700651010000101|Immunoglobulin G antibody to Solidago virgaurea (substance). These concepts are internationally applicable and will be promoted to the International Release of SNOMED CT.

Q2 2026 International Release

25.

MRCM

Update MRCM attribute cardinality of 370134009 |Time aspect (attribute)|

The attribute cardinality of 370134009 |Time aspect (attribute)| will be updated from 0..1 to 0..* for evaluation procedures. This change will support multiple properties in concept modeling. This is aligned with the cardinality for observables. 

Update MRCM attribute cardinality of 370130000 |Property (attribute)|

The attribute cardinality of 370130000 |Property (attribute)| will be updated from 0..1 to 0..* for evaluation procedures. This change will support multiple properties for in concept model, e.g. 624521000052106 |Plain X-ray of bilateral lower limbs for bone length measurement (procedure)|. 

New MRCM Attribute 129453003 |Has deficiency of (attribute)|

Creation of new MRCM for the existing attribute `129453003 |Deficiency of (attribute)|` to support the modeling of physiological disorders.

New MRCM Attribute 1395997003 |Has excess of (attribute)|

Creation of new MRCM for the attribute `1395997003 |Has excess of (attribute)|` to support the modeling of physiological disorders. 

New MRCM Attribute HAS ASSOCIATED GENE

Creation of new MRCM for attribute 1395996007 |Has associated gene (attribute)| to support modeling of genetic disorders.

May 2026 International Release

26.

Disorder

Inactivation of 87991007 |Gender identity disorder (disorder)| and Related Subtypes

This change reflects current clinical consensus that the term gender identity disorder is outdated and no longer appropriate. Contemporary clinical approaches distinguish between gender identity itself (which is not considered pathological) and any associated distress, which may warrant clinical support. This is now represented with alternative terminology, including gender dysphoria and gender incongruence.

Planned changes:

Inactivation reason: OUTDATED

Historical associations:

POSSIBLY REPLACED BY →

93461009 |Gender dysphoria (disorder)| or a descendant 

1332230002 |Gender incongruence (finding)| or a descendant

Concepts affected:

• 67123006 Adult gender identity disorder, sexually attracted to both sexes (disorder)

• 54417002 Adult gender identity disorder, sexually attracted to females (disorder)

• 59216005 Adult gender identity disorder, sexually attracted to males (disorder)

• 61180001Adult gender identity disorder, sexually attracted to neither sex (disorder)

• 87991007 Gender identity disorder (disorder)

• 57715001 Gender identity disorder of adolescence (disorder)

• 68963006 Gender identity disorder of adolescence, previously heterosexual (disorder)

• 30509009 Gender identity disorder of adolescence, previously homosexual (disorder)

• 18003009 Gender identity disorder of adulthood (disorder)

• 13670005 Gender identity disorder of adulthood, previously heterosexual (disorder)

• 77815007 Gender identity disorder of adulthood, previously homosexual (disorder)

• 5095008 Gender identity disorder of childhood (disorder)

• 191787001 Psychosexual identity disorder (disorder)

June 2026 International Release

27.

Procedure

Changes to 62141006 |Radical excision (procedure)| Hierarchy

To improve aggregation, consistent modeling and sufficient definition of concepts in the 62141006 |Radical excision (procedure)| hierarchy, a review and changes to model will be undertaken as follows:

• Addition of new concept Radical excision - action (qualifier value).

• Addition of new concept Radical amputation - action as a subtype of Radical excision - action (qualifier value) and 129309007 |Amputation - action (qualifier value)|.

• Relocation of 129311003 |Evisceration - action (qualifier value)| under Radical excision - action (qualifier value).

• Modeling of Radical excision procedures with 260686004 |Method (attribute)| = << Radical excision - action (qualifier value) and 405813007 |Procedure site - Direct (attribute)| = Entire X [body structure].

 These changes will impact 169 procedure concepts.

June 2026 International Release

28.

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.

Beginning Q2 2026 International Release

29.

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.

Q2 2026 International Release

30.

Clinical Finding

Revision of Clinical Findings Defined by Ethanol

Please see this Informational Briefing Note.

Q3-Q4 2026 International Release

31.

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

32.

Project Group

Formation of Radiology Project Group

Please see announcement here.

2026 - 2027 International Releases

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

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.