Excludes1 pair
D21- vs D24-
D21 and D24 are not coded together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note — the two conditions are not expected to occur together, so exactly one of them is normally correct for a given encounter. The Official Guidelines carve out one exception: if the two conditions are clearly unrelated to each other, both may be reported.
The official note, declared on D21
benign neoplasm of connective tissue of breast (D24.-)
D21
Other benign neoplasms of connective and other soft tissue
Not billable
- Chapter 2
- Neoplasms
- Section
- D10-D36
Use when the record says
- benign neoplasm of blood vessel
- benign neoplasm of bursa
- benign neoplasm of cartilage
- benign neoplasm of fascia
- benign neoplasm of fat
- benign neoplasm of ligament, except uterine
- benign neoplasm of lymphatic channel
- benign neoplasm of muscle
D24
Benign neoplasm of breast
Not billable
- Chapter 2
- Neoplasms
- Section
- D10-D36
Use when the record says
- benign neoplasm of connective tissue of breast
- benign neoplasm of soft parts of breast
- fibroadenoma of breast
Indexed under
- Adenoma › nipple
- Adenomatosis › erosive of nipple
- Cystosarcoma phyllodes › benign
- Fibroadenoma › cellular intracanalicular
- Fibroadenoma › giant
Excludes1 is not always absolute: where two conditions covered by the note are genuinely unrelated, CMS guidance permits reporting both. Document the reasoning rather than assuming it. More on Excludes1 vs Excludes2 · FY2027