Excludes1 pair
N34.0 vs N36.2
N34.0 and N36.2 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 N34.0
urethral caruncle (N36.2)
N34.0
Urethral abscess
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N30-N39
Use when the record says
- Abscess (of) Cowper's gland
- Abscess (of) Littré's gland
- Abscess (of) urethral (gland)
- Periurethral abscess
Indexed under
- Abscess › bulbourethral gland
- Abscess › Cowper's gland
- Abscess › lacunar
- Abscess › Littre's gland
- Abscess › periurethral
N36.2
Urethral caruncle
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N30-N39
Indexed under
- Caruncle › urethral (benign)
- Polyp, polypus › urethra
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