Find comprehensive information on Lymphocytic Colitis, including clinical documentation requirements, medical coding guidelines, ICD-10 codes (K52.8), SNOMED CT concepts, and histopathology findings. Learn about the diagnosis, treatment, and management of Lymphocytic Colitis with resources for healthcare professionals, clinicians, and medical coders. Explore symptoms, differential diagnosis, colonoscopy findings, biopsy interpretation, and microscopic colitis. Improve your understanding of this chronic inflammatory condition and ensure accurate clinical documentation and coding.
Also known as
Other noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis
This code encompasses various non-infectious inflammatory bowel conditions, including lymphocytic colitis.
Noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis, unspecified
Used when the specific type of noninfective gastroenteritis or colitis is not documented.
Ulcerative colitis
While not the primary code, it can be relevant for cases with overlapping features.
Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.
Is the diagnosis Lymphocytic Colitis?
When to use each related code
| Description |
|---|
| Chronic watery diarrhea, normal colonoscopy. |
| Microscopic colitis, collagenous subtype. |
| Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. |
Using unspecified colitis codes (e.g., K52.9) when lymphocytic colitis is confirmed, leading to inaccurate DRG assignment and reimbursement.
Insufficient clinical documentation to differentiate lymphocytic colitis from collagenous colitis, impacting accurate coding and quality reporting.
Coding symptoms (e.g., diarrhea) instead of the definitive diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis, leading to underreporting of the disease prevalence.
Patient presents with chronic watery diarrhea, consistent with the suspected diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis. Symptoms include frequent, non-bloody bowel movements, often exceeding four per day, and abdominal discomfort. No reported fever, weight loss, or nocturnal symptoms. Patient denies recent travel, antibiotic use, or exposure to known infectious agents. Physical examination reveals a non-tender abdomen with normal bowel sounds. Complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, inflammatory markers (CRP, ESR), and stool studies (including fecal calprotectin and infectious workup) were ordered to evaluate for alternative diagnoses such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome, and microscopic colitis. Colonoscopy with biopsies was performed, revealing normal macroscopic appearance of the colon, however, histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis, demonstrating increased intraepithelial lymphocytes. Given the patient's symptoms and histologic findings, a diagnosis of lymphocytic colitis was established. Treatment plan includes dietary modifications, specifically a trial of a gluten-free diet and lactose avoidance. The patient was educated on the chronic nature of lymphocytic colitis and the potential need for pharmacologic intervention with budesonide or other anti-inflammatory medications if dietary modifications prove insufficient. Follow-up appointment scheduled in four weeks to assess response to therapy and adjust management as needed. Differential diagnosis included irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and infectious colitis. ICD-10 code K52.83 (other noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis) and SNOMED CT code 66273007 (lymphocytic colitis) are appropriate for this case.