Radiology Coding Alert

Check this one-to-one match for aortic dissection.

Answer 1: The correct answer is option c, I71.02.

Like ICD-9, ICD-10 offers a definitive code for aortic dissection in the abdominal region. You submit ICD-9 code 441.02 (Dissection of aorta, abdominal). This code corresponds to I71.02 (Dissection of abdominal aorta) in ICD-10.

Similarly, you submit ICD-9 code 441.01 (Dissection of aorta, thoracic) and ICD-10 code I71.01 (Dissection of thoracic aorta) for dissection in the thoracic part of the aorta.

Answer 2: The correct answer is option a, I71.00.

When your physician does not specify the site of the aortic dissection, you submit ICD-10 code I71.00 (Dissection of unspecified site of aorta). The corresponding ICD-9 code is 441.00 (Dissection of aorta, unspecified site).

Notice: Using either ICD-9 or ICD-10, reporting the four digit code (441.0 or 171.0) would be incorrect. If the documentation doesn’t adequately specify the location of the abnormality, you should not truncate to a four digit code, but instead use the five-digit code for “unspecified site.” 

Answer 3: The correct answer is option d, I71.03.

Both ICD-10 and ICD-9 offer definitive codes for dissection of the thoracoabdominal aorta. The ICD-10 code is I71.03 (Dissection of thoracoabdominal aorta) and the ICD-9 code is 441.03 (Dissection of aorta, thoracoabdominal).