N34.0 vs N36.2
N34.0 and N36.2 can never be reported together. ICD-10-CM declares them mutually exclusive with an Excludes1 note, meaning the two conditions cannot occur in the same patient — so exactly one of them is correct for any given encounter.
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 (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
- Abscess › Cowper's gland (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
- Abscess › lacunar (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
- Abscess › Littre's gland (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
- Abscess › periurethral (connective tissue) (embolic) (fistulous) (infective) (metastatic) (multiple) (pernicious) (pyogenic) (septic)
N36.2
Urethral caruncle
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N30-N39
Indexed under
- Caruncle › urethral (inflamed)
- 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