Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: The physician documented that the patient has an embolic cerebellar abscess. Which ICD-10 code should we report for this condition?

Nebraska Subscriber

Answer: You should report G06.0 (Intracranial abscess and granuloma) for this condition.

Code G06.0 includes a number of other applicable diagnoses:

• Any part of the brain embolic abscess
• Embolic cerebral abscess
• Intracranial epidural abscess or granuloma
• Intracranial extradural abscess or granuloma
• Intracranial subdural abscess or granuloma
• Embolic otogenic abscess.

Don’t miss: Intracranial abscess and granuloma refers to a collection of pus (abscess) or dead cells (granuloma) surrounded by inflamed tissue within the skull (brain) and protective coverings over the brain (meninges).