2025 ICD-10-CM code A18.8
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Tuberculosis 1 Feed
Tuberculosis of other specified organs.
Medical necessity for the use of this code is established by the confirmed diagnosis of tuberculosis in a specified organ not classified elsewhere in the A18 series. The documentation should support the diagnosis and treatment plan.
Clinicians should document the specific organ involved, the diagnostic methods used (e.g., MRI, CT scan, culture), and the treatment plan, which often includes a combination of antituberculosis medications.
In simple words: This code indicates tuberculosis (TB) that affects organs other than the lungs, such as the bones, lymph nodes, abdomen, or brain.It's used when the TB is not in a location covered by a more specific code.
This code designates tuberculosis affecting organs and sites not specifically classified elsewhere in the ICD-10-CM.It includes TB of specific organs not otherwise listed.
Example 1: A patient presents with fever, abdominal pain, and weight loss.Imaging reveals granulomas in the liver, consistent with tuberculosis. Code A18.83 (Tuberculosis of digestive tract organs, not elsewhere classified) would be appropriate here., A patient with a history of HIV presents with thyroid enlargement and nodules. Biopsy reveals Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The diagnosis is tuberculosis of the thyroid gland, coded as A18.81., A patient with known TB experiences persistent headaches and altered mental status.A lumbar puncture confirms TB meningitis.While meningitis is a central nervous system condition, codes for tuberculosis of the nervous system (A18.0) do not include the meninges.In this instance, use A18.8 since the meninges falls under the category of "other specified organs". For specificity, an additional code from Chapter G00-G99 (Diseases of the nervous system) might be considered to fully reflect the meningitis aspect, if clinically indicated.
Documentation should clearly specify the affected organ, confirm the diagnosis of tuberculosis through laboratory testing or imaging, and detail the treatment plan. The physician should document any associated symptoms, any relevant medical history (such as HIV status or immunosuppression) and the patient's response to treatment.
** A18.8 is a billable code. If the specific site of extrapulmonary TB is known, utilize the more specific A18 code available. Remember to also code for any underlying conditions affecting the patient, like HIV.
- Specialties:Infectious Disease, Pulmonology, Internal Medicine and potentially other specialties depending on the affected organ (e.g., Endocrinology for thyroid TB, Urology for genitourinary TB).
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Physician's Office, and other places of service depending on the severity and location of the infection.