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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesAbdominal Tenderness

Abdominal Tenderness

ICD-10 Coding for Abdominal Tenderness(R10.811, R10.815)

PRIMARY SPECIALTYEmergency Medicine
COMPLEXITYHigh
LAST UPDATED09/15/2025
Sam Tuffun, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist | Medical Coding & Billing Contributor

Diagnosis Overview

What is Abdominal Tenderness?
Essential facts and insights about Abdominal Tenderness

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Presence of pain or discomfort in the abdomen when touched or palpated
  • Severity, location, and duration of the abdominal pain

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Specific location of the abdominal tenderness
  • Cause of the abdominal tenderness, if known
  • Severity and duration of the abdominal tenderness

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • R10.811 is used for right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness
  • R10.815 is used for periumbilic abdominal tenderness
  • Other codes in the R10 series can be used for different locations of abdominal pain and tenderness

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Chronic or recurrent abdominal pain
  • Abdominal pain where the specific location is unknown or unspecified

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
R10.811
Right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness
R10.815
Periumbilic abdominal tenderness
Ancillary Codes
K35.89
R10
codes.
K57.30
Differential Codes
R10.823
R10.823
if rebound tenderness is present in the right lower quadrant.
R10.84
R10.84
if pain is generalized and not localized to the periumbilical region.

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Emergency Medicine

Specialty Applications

  • Patients presenting with abdominal pain or discomfort upon palpation
  • Scenarios where the specific location of abdominal tenderness is known

Coding Complexity

High Complexity

This diagnosis requires careful attention to:

  • Comprehensive clinical documentation
  • Accurate code selection based on clinical criteria
  • Proper exclusion considerations
  • Specialty-specific coding guidelines

Documentation

Documentation Templates

Template 1

Patient presents with [severity] abdominal tenderness in the [specific location].

Template 2

Abdominal tenderness noted in the [specific location] upon palpation.

Billing Information

Billing Considerations

  • Ensure proper documentation for billing
  • Verify code specificity requirements
  • Check for any additional codes needed
  • Review payer-specific guidelines

Common Issues

  • Insufficient clinical documentation
  • Incorrect code selection
  • Missing supporting diagnoses
  • Timing and frequency documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can these codes be used for chronic abdominal pain?

No, these codes are intended for acute abdominal tenderness. Chronic or recurrent abdominal pain should be coded differently.

What if the specific location of the abdominal tenderness is unknown?

If the specific location is unknown, a different code in the R10 series should be used.