What is the ICD-10 code for right lower abdominal pain?

The ICD-10 code for right lower abdominal pain is R10.31, used when pain is localized to the right lower quadrant without a definitive diagnosis.

When should R10.31 be used?

R10.31 should be used when a patient presents with localized pain in the right lower quadrant and no definitive diagnosis is made.

ICD-10 Coding for Right Lower Abdominal Pain(R10.31, K35.2, K35.80)

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Learn about ICD-10 coding for right lower abdominal pain, including when to use R10.31 and related codes for appendicitis and ovarian cysts.

Also known as:

Right Lower Quadrant PainRLQ Pain

Related ICD-10 Code Ranges

Complete code families applicable to Right Lower Abdominal Pain

R00-R99Primary Range

Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified

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Code Comparison: When to Use Each Code

Compare key differences between these codes to ensure accurate selection

Code	Description	When to Use	Key Documentation
R10.31	Right lower quadrant pain	Use when the patient presents with pain localized to the right lower quadrant without a definitive diagnosis.	Sharp localized pain in RLQ Rebound tenderness Negative bowel sounds
K35.2	Acute appendicitis with localized peritonitis	Use when appendicitis is confirmed by imaging or surgery.	CT scan showing appendiceal dilation Elevated WBC count

Primary ICD-10-CM Codes

Right lower quadrant pain

R10.31Billable

Differential Codes

Alternative codes to consider when ruling out similar conditions

Acute appendicitis with localized peritonitisK35.2

Use when imaging confirms appendicitis.

Right lower quadrant painR10.31

Use when no definitive diagnosis is made.

Documentation & Coding Risks

Avoid these common issues when documenting Right Lower Abdominal Pain.

Vague documentation of abdominal pain

Impact

Clinical: May lead to misdiagnosis or delayed treatment, Regulatory: Increased risk of audit, Financial: Potential for lower reimbursement

Mitigation

Train staff on documentation standards, Use templates to ensure completeness

Using R10.9 for unspecified abdominal pain instead of R10.31

Impact

Reimbursement: Lower reimbursement due to non-specific coding, Compliance: Increased risk of audit due to lack of specificity, Data Quality: Decreased accuracy in patient records

Mitigation

Always specify the quadrant to use R10.31.

Specificity of pain documentation

Impact

Audits may focus on whether the documentation supports the specificity of the code used.

Mitigation

Ensure detailed documentation of pain characteristics and location.

Frequently Asked Questions

Documentation requirements, coding pitfalls and FAQs for conditions coded with R10.31.

Primary Code

R10.31

Right lower quadrant pain

Quick Navigation

ICD-10 codes7

Coding risks3

FAQs2

ICD-10 Coding for Right Lower Abdominal Pain(R10.31, K35.2, K35.80)

Documentation & Coding Risks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for right lower abdominal pain?

When should R10.31 be used?

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