Excludes1 pair
N72 vs N86
N72 and N86 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 N72
erosion and ectropion of cervix without cervicitis (N86)
N72
Inflammatory disease of cervix uteri
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N70-N77
Use when the record says
- cervicitis (with or without erosion or ectropion)
- endocervicitis (with or without erosion or ectropion)
- exocervicitis (with or without erosion or ectropion)
Indexed under
- Cervicitis (acute) (atrophic) (chronic) (nonvenereal) (senile) (subacute) (with ulceration)
- Cervicocolpitis (emphysematosa) (see also Cervicitis)
- Endocervicitis › hyperplastic
- Hyperplasia, hyperplastic › endocervicitis
- Ectropion › cervix › with cervicitis
N86
Erosion and ectropion of cervix uteri
Billable
- Chapter 14
- Diseases of the genitourinary system
- Section
- N80-N98
Use when the record says
- Decubitus (trophic) ulcer of cervix
- Eversion of cervix
Indexed under
- Lipping, cervix
- Decubitus › cervix
- Ectropion › cervix
- Erosion › cervix (uteri) (acquired) (chronic) (congenital)
- Eversion › cervix (uteri)
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