A19.2

What This Code Means

This code describes a severe form of tuberculosis where the infection has spread rapidly throughout the body, affecting multiple organs simultaneously. It occurs when tuberculosis bacteria enter the bloodstream and distribute widely, creating small lesions that resemble millet seeds (hence the term 'miliary').

Coding Tips

• •Verify that the tuberculosis is confirmed as miliary (disseminated) type and acute in presentation before assigning this code; do not use if a specific site of miliary TB is documented, as more specific codes exist
• •This code indicates unspecified site involvement; if documentation specifies affected organs (such as meninges, lungs, or other sites), use the more specific miliary TB codes instead