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v1.0.0
ICD-10 Guide
DiagnosesMicroscopic Colitis

Microscopic Colitis

ICD-10 Coding for Microscopic Colitis(K52.831, K52.832, K52.839)

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

Diagnosis Overview

What is Microscopic Colitis?
Essential facts and insights about Microscopic Colitis

Key Clinical Considerations:

  • Chronic, non-bloody diarrhea lasting more than 4 weeks
  • Weight loss and abdominal pain may be present
  • Colonoscopy shows normal mucosa with histological findings of increased lymphocytes and plasma cells

Clinical Information

Clinical Criteria & Documentation Requirements

  • Patient history of diarrhea and associated symptoms
  • Results of colonoscopy and biopsy findings
  • Exclusion of other causes of diarrhea

Coding Guidelines

Usage Guidelines & Examples

  • Use K52.81 for confirmed microscopic colitis; K52.9 for unspecified cases.
  • Common errors include misclassifying microscopic colitis as inflammatory bowel disease.

Code Exclusions

Important Exclusions

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
  • Infectious gastroenteritis

Related ICD-10 Codes

Primary Codes
K52.9
Noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis, unspecified
K52.81
Microscopic colitis
Ancillary Codes
R19.7
Differential Codes
K52.832
K52.831

Related CPT Codes

CPT codes will be available in a future update.

Specialty Focus

Primary Specialty

Gastroenterology

Specialty Applications

  • Adults, particularly those over 50 years old
  • Gastroenterology clinics and outpatient settings

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

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

What are the documentation requirements?

Document patient symptoms, diagnostic tests, and biopsy results.

What are the billing considerations?

Ensure accurate coding based on biopsy results and clinical findings.