2025 ICD-10-CM code A18.83
(Valid) Effective Date: N/A Certain infectious and parasitic diseases - Tuberculosis 1 Feed
Tuberculosis of digestive tract organs, not elsewhere classified.
Medical necessity for treatment of A18.83 is established by confirming the presence of active tuberculosis within the digestive tract (excluding the intestines) through diagnostic testing. The documentation must support the need for intervention to address the infection and prevent further complications. This could include descriptions of symptoms, imaging findings, and positive laboratory tests.
Clinicians should consider a diagnosis of digestive tract tuberculosis when patients present with symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, abdominal swelling, localized pain and tenderness, blood in stool (indicating upper GI bleeding), obstruction of bile and pancreatic ducts, and dysfunction of the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas.These may occur in conjunction with typical pulmonary tuberculosis symptoms like fever, cough, and fatigue.Diagnosis may involve laboratory analysis of sputum, gastric washings, biopsies obtained via upper endoscopy or fine needle aspiration, imaging studies (ultrasound, CT, chest x-ray), and endoscopic procedures such as ERCP and cholangiography.
In simple words: This code indicates tuberculosis (TB) affecting the digestive system, excluding the intestines. It refers to TB in organs like the stomach, liver, pancreas, and gallbladder. TB in these areas is uncommon and arises when TB bacteria spread from the lungs or lymph nodes. Symptoms can vary depending on the affected organ, including difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain and swelling, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Treatment usually involves anti-TB medication and sometimes surgery.
This code refers to tuberculosis affecting organs of the digestive system, excluding the intestines. It encompasses infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis in areas such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and other parts of the digestive tract not specifically classified elsewhere.It's important to note that this code excludes tuberculosis of the intestine (A18.32).
Example 1: A patient with a history of pulmonary TB presents with abdominal pain, weight loss, and difficulty swallowing.Further investigation reveals a tuberculous lesion in the stomach, confirming a diagnosis of gastrointestinal TB., A patient complains of persistent abdominal pain, fever, and jaundice. Imaging studies identify granulomas in the liver. Biopsy confirms the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to a diagnosis of hepatic TB., An individual with a weakened immune system develops abdominal distension and ascites.Analysis of the ascitic fluid reveals Mycobacterium tuberculosis, indicating peritoneal TB.
Documentation should include evidence of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium bovis affecting a specific digestive organ other than the intestines. This may include laboratory results, imaging findings, endoscopic reports, and histopathology from biopsies.Clinical presentation, including symptoms and physical exam findings, should also be thoroughly documented.
- Specialties:Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease
- Place of Service:Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Hospital, Office