2025 ICD-10-CM code I51.7
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Revision Date: N/A Deletion Date: N/A Diseases of the circulatory system - Other forms of heart disease Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) Feed
Cardiomegaly, or enlargement of the heart, is a nonspecific symptom often associated with heart failure or cardiomyopathy.
Modifiers may be applicable depending on the circumstances of the encounter and the services provided.
Medical necessity for the diagnosis of cardiomegaly is established by the presence of symptoms or findings on diagnostic tests that suggest an enlarged heart.Further investigations are necessary to determine the underlying cause, which may justify additional medical interventions.
The clinical responsibility for coding I51.7 rests with the physician who makes the diagnosis. The physician should document the clinical findings that support the diagnosis of cardiomegaly, including the method used to assess the size of the heart (e.g., chest x-ray, echocardiogram) and any evidence of associated conditions.
- Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
- I51 Complications and ill-defined descriptions of heart disease
In simple words: Cardiomegaly means your heart is bigger than normal. This can happen because of different health problems, such as heart failure or problems with the heart muscle.A bigger heart doesn't always mean you're sick, but it needs to be checked by a doctor to find out what's causing it.
Cardiomegaly, characterized by an enlarged heart, can result from various conditions such as chronic systolic heart failure, cardiomyopathies, or increased workload on the heart (e.g., from hypertension or athletic training).It is defined as an increase in the size of the heart, often involving one or more chambers (atria or ventricles), typically indicated by a cardiothoracic ratio exceeding 0.50. The enlargement may stem from hypertrophy (increased cell size) or dilatation (increased chamber volume).It's a nonspecific finding and requires further investigation to determine the underlying cause.It may or may not be symptomatic.
Example 1: A 65-year-old male patient presents with shortness of breath and fatigue.Echocardiography reveals cardiomegaly with reduced ejection fraction.The physician diagnoses chronic systolic heart failure., A 40-year-old female athlete undergoes a routine physical examination, which includes an echocardiogram.The echocardiogram reveals cardiomegaly, but the patient is asymptomatic and has no other cardiac symptoms.The physician documents athlete's heart., A 70-year-old patient with a history of hypertension presents with chest pain.Chest X-ray shows cardiomegaly.Further investigation is needed to rule out coronary artery disease or other causes of heart enlargement.
Complete and accurate documentation is essential for proper coding.Documentation should include:
** The diagnosis of cardiomegaly should always be supported by objective evidence, such as echocardiography or chest x-ray findings.The code should only be assigned when cardiomegaly is confirmed. The clinical documentation should specify the extent and location of cardiac enlargement.Further investigation into the underlying cause is crucial.
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Cardiology
- Place of Service:Office, Hospital (Inpatient and Outpatient), Ambulatory Surgical Center