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N50.819
ICD-10-CM
Testicle Pain

Find information on testicle pain diagnosis, including differential diagnoses, ICD-10 codes (N50.9, R20.2), medical coding guidelines, clinical documentation best practices, and healthcare resources. Learn about scrotal pain, orchialgia, testicular torsion, epididymitis, inguinal hernia, and other related conditions. Explore symptoms, causes, and treatment options for testicle pain with this comprehensive guide for healthcare professionals, coders, and patients.

Also known as

Testicular Pain
Orchialgia

Diagnosis Snapshot

Key Facts
  • Definition : Aching, sharp, or dull pain in one or both testicles.
  • Clinical Signs : Swelling, redness, tenderness, nausea, fever, pain radiating to the groin.
  • Common Settings : Trauma, infection (epididymitis, orchitis), torsion, hernia, varicocele.

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to AAPC N50.819 Coding
N50-N51

Disorders of male genital organs

Covers various testicular conditions including pain.

R10-R19

Symptoms and signs involving abdomen and pelvis

Includes abdominal and pelvic pain which may relate to testicular pain.

N40-N50

Other disorders of male genital organs

Encompasses other male genital disorders that could manifest as testicular pain.

Code-Specific Guidance

Decision Tree for

Follow this step-by-step guide to choose the correct ICD-10 code.

Is the testicle pain traumatic in origin?

  • Yes

    Open wound?

  • No

    Is there evidence of infection/inflammation?

Code Comparison

Related Codes Comparison

When to use each related code

Description
Testicle pain
Epididymitis
Testicular torsion

Documentation Best Practices

Documentation Checklist
  • Testicle pain: Onset, duration, character
  • Location, radiation of testicular pain
  • Precipitating, alleviating factors
  • Associated symptoms: Nausea, fever
  • Physical exam: Tenderness, swelling, masses

Coding and Audit Risks

Common Risks
  • Unspecified Pain Code

    Using unspecified pain codes (e.g., R10.9) without sufficient documentation to support a more specific testicle pain diagnosis (e.g., orchitis, epididymitis).

  • Lateralization Missing

    Failing to document laterality (right, left, or bilateral) when coding testicle pain, impacting medical necessity for procedures or imaging.

  • Trauma vs. Medical

    Incorrectly coding traumatic testicle pain (e.g., S30.0) as non-traumatic (e.g., N50.1), leading to inaccurate reporting and reimbursement.

Mitigation Tips

Best Practices
  • Document pain onset, location, character for accurate ICD-10 coding (e.g., R20.8)
  • Rule out testicular torsion promptly: crucial for time-sensitive treatment, avoid NCCI edits
  • Evaluate for infection: document fever, swelling, discharge for appropriate CPT coding
  • Physical exam: palpate for masses, document size, tenderness for improved CDI
  • Consider age-specific diagnoses: pediatric vs. adult for compliant coding and billing

Clinical Decision Support

Checklist
  • Verify location, onset, duration of pain (ICD-10 R22.2)
  • Check for trauma, swelling, fever (SNOMED CT 26221006)
  • Examine for masses, tenderness, cremasteric reflex
  • Evaluate for infection, torsion, hernia (CPT 99202-99215)
  • Order urinalysis, ultrasound if indicated (patient safety)

Reimbursement and Quality Metrics

Impact Summary
  • Testicle Pain Reimbursement: Maximize revenue with accurate ICD-10 (N50-N51, R20.2) and CPT coding (e.g., 99202-99215, 76770).
  • Coding Accuracy Impact: Avoid denials by specifying laterality, acute/chronic, and trauma/infection details.
  • Quality Metrics Impact: Tracking pain management effectiveness and patient outcomes is key for reporting.
  • Hospital Reporting Impact: Diagnosis coding impacts resource allocation and quality improvement initiatives.

Streamline Your Medical Coding

Let S10.AI help you select the most accurate ICD-10 codes. Our AI-powered assistant ensures compliance and reduces coding errors.

Quick Tips

Practical Coding Tips
  • Code primary testicular pain diagnosis
  • Rule out torsion, code urgency
  • Document pain onset, location, type
  • Consider trauma, infection codes
  • Check laterality: specify left, right, bilateral

Documentation Templates

Patient presents with chief complaint of testicle pain.  Onset of testicular pain was (onset duration e.g., two days ago, gradual over several weeks).  The pain is characterized as (pain quality e.g., sharp, dull, aching, throbbing) and located in the (location e.g., right testicle, left testicle, both testicles, radiating to groin).  Pain severity is (pain scale 0-10).  Associated symptoms include (e.g., nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, urinary symptoms such as dysuria, frequency, urgency, hematuria, scrotal swelling, redness, tenderness, trauma to the groin or scrotum, abdominal pain, lower back pain).  Patient denies (pertinent negatives e.g., trauma, fever, recent sexual activity).  Physical examination reveals (e.g., normal testicular lie, scrotal edema, erythema, tenderness to palpation of the (leftright) testicleepididymis, positive Prehn's sign, positive Cremasteric reflex).  Differential diagnosis includes epididymitis, orchitis, testicular torsion, inguinal hernia, hydrocele, varicocele, spermatocele, testicular trauma, referred pain.  Plan includes (e.g., scrotal ultrasound, urinalysis with microscopy and culture, pain management with ibuprofen or other appropriate analgesics, antibiotics if infection suspected, surgical consult if testicular torsion suspected, patient education regarding testicular self-examination, follow-up appointment scheduled).  Diagnosis: Testicular pain.  ICD-10 code: (appropriate ICD-10 code based on clinical findings, e.g., R20.81  Pain in right testicle, R20.82 Pain in left testicle).
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