FY2027
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Excludes1 pair

J32.2 vs J33.1

J32.2 and J33.1 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 J32.2
Woakes' ethmoiditis (J33.1)
J32.2

Chronic ethmoidal sinusitis

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J30-J39
Use when the record says
  • Ethmoidal sinusitis NOS
Indexed under
  • Abscess › ethmoid (bone) (chronic) (sinus)
  • Necrosis, necrotic › ethmoid (bone)
  • Sinusitis › ethmoidal
  • Necrosis, necrotic › bone › ethmoid
J33.1

Polypoid sinus degeneration

Billable
Chapter 10
Diseases of the respiratory system
Section
J30-J39
Use when the record says
  • Woakes' syndrome or ethmoiditis
Indexed under
  • Woakes' ethmoiditis or syndrome
  • Ethmoiditis › Woakes'
  • Syndrome › Woakes' (ethmoiditis)
  • Degeneration, degenerative › sinus › polypoid

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