Wiki Is cardiomegaly intrinsic to chf?

[Mouf1818]

Can anybody tell me if cardiomegaly is intrinsic to chf? Some people are telling me you can code both while others are saying no. I thought chf always shows signs of an enlarged heart. How can you tell if something is intrinsic?

 

[kevbshields]

According to ICD you do not code signs, symptoms that are integral to the disease process--unless otherwise instructed to do so. Cardiomegaly is typical of CHF. As to whether you can or cannot code it, I fail to see the benefit in coding it, but there's probably little agreement between coders.

 

[sleepycats]

I was taught that cardiomegaly was intrisic to CHF and to only code the CHF as the cardiomegaly is a sign/symptom of CHF.