Understand Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) with this comprehensive guide. Learn about GGO diagnosis, including differential diagnosis, CT findings, lung nodule management, and follow-up recommendations. Explore relevant medical coding and clinical documentation best practices for GGO, including ICD-10 codes, SNOMED CT, and appropriate terminology for accurate reporting. This resource provides valuable information for healthcare professionals, radiologists, pulmonologists, and medical coders seeking clarity on GGO diagnosis and documentation.
Also known as
Other respiratory signs and symptoms
Ground glass opacities can manifest as other respiratory issues.
Other interstitial pulmonary diseases
GGOs may be associated with interstitial lung diseases.
Other specified respiratory disorders
Ground glass opacity can fall under other respiratory disorders.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is GGO due to COVID-19?
Yes
Code U07.1, COVID-19
No
Is GGO related to vaping?
When to use each related code
Description |
---|
Ground Glass Opacity |
Consolidation |
Nodule |
Coding GGO without specifying etiology (infection, inflammation, etc.) leads to inaccurate reporting and potential DRG misassignment.
Lack of documented GGO size hinders accurate coding, impacting severity assessment and appropriate reimbursement.
Inconsistent coding of resolving or persistent GGOs across encounters creates data integrity issues and impacts quality metrics.
Patient presents with ground glass opacity (GGO) noted on chest CT scan. The GGO finding was identified during a [reason for CT scan, e.g., routine lung cancer screening, evaluation of cough, follow-up for prior pneumonia]. The ground glass nodule measures [size] mm located in the [lobe] of the [right or left] lung. Differential diagnosis includes infection, inflammation, pulmonary fibrosis, and lung cancer. Patient denies symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, hemoptysis, or fever. Physical exam reveals clear lung sounds bilaterally. Patient has a history of [relevant medical history, e.g., smoking, asbestos exposure, prior lung disease]. Current medications include [list medications]. Assessment includes pulmonary ground glass opacity, etiology undetermined. Plan includes [mention of follow-up imaging, e.g., repeat CT scan in [timeframe], pulmonary function tests, consultation with pulmonology], further investigation to determine the etiology of the GGO, and discussion of risks and benefits of lung biopsy if indicated. Patient education provided regarding the significance of ground glass opacities, the need for follow-up, and the importance of smoking cessation if applicable. ICD-10 code R91.8 (other abnormal findings on diagnostic imaging of lung) may be considered depending on the clinical scenario. CPT codes for the CT scan and any subsequent procedures will be documented separately. Follow-up scheduled for [date].