E24.1 ICD-10-CM Code: Nelson's syndrome
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FY 2026 Apr update / Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E89) / Disorders of other endocrine glands (E20-E35)
E24.1
Billable / SpecificICD-10-CMOfficial ICD-10-CMCodebook guidanceNelson's syndrome
A condition that develops after surgical removal of a pituitary tumor, characterized by high ACTH and cortisol levels due to remaining pituitary tissue.
Buddy Insight
Nelson syndrome is a rare but serious complication that develops after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing disease, where the pre-existing pituitary corticotroph adenoma grows aggressively due to loss of cortisol negative feedback.
CMS-HCC V28
00
RAF 0
CMS-HCC V24
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.194
ACA/HHS
00
RAF 0
ESRD/PACE
MappedHCC 23
RAF 0.0
RXHCC
MappedHCC 43
RAF 0.0
Code Trumping
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Code Book Path
Inclusion Terms
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list inclusion terms for E24.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 2
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Excludes 2 notes for E24.1 in this effective period.
Related Child Codes
Includes
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Includes notes for E24.1 in this effective period.
Excludes 1
Official- congenital adrenal hyperplasia (E25.0)
Code First
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code First sequencing instructions for E24.1 in this effective period.
Use Additional
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Use Additional Code instructions for E24.1 in this effective period.
Code Also
OfficialICD-10-CM does not list Code Also instructions for E24.1 in this effective period.
Buddy Documentation Tip
MEAT Support
Audit Caution
Common Mistakes
Last updated: FY2026 ICD-10-CM Apr update, Apr 1, 2026 through Sep 30, 2026. CMS-HCC V28 is 100% phased in for payment year 2026.
Is E24.1 an HCC code?
Yes. E24.1 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders under the V24 model but is not retained in V28.
HCC Category Mapping
RAF weights shown are the community, non-dual, aged base weights from the CMS risk adjustment model file. Actual per-patient RAF contribution depends on member segment, interactions, and the model year used by the payer. V28 is the CMS-HCC model phased in over payment years 2024–2026; V24 remains in use during the transition and for historical data.
Work E24.1 in the Code Book — tabular path, V28 RAF, and MEAT checklist →
MEAT Criteria for E24.1
For E24.1to count as a valid HCC diagnosis in a given encounter, the provider's documentation must show MEAT: Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat. A diagnosis from a prior year does not carry forward automatically, it has to be re-documented and supported each calendar year.
- MMonitor: signs, symptoms, disease progression, or lab trending documented in the note
- EEvaluate: test results, medication response, or physical findings reviewed by the provider
- AAssess: explicit mention in the assessment or plan with acknowledgment of status
- TTreat: medication, referral, procedure, therapy, or counseling tied to the diagnosis
Only one of M/E/A/T is required to support the code, but the documentation must be specific enough to show that the provider actually addressed E24.1 during that encounter, not just copy-forwarded from a problem list.
Coder workflow notes
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What This Code Means
E24.1 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for nelson's syndrome. A condition that develops after surgical removal of a pituitary tumor, characterized by high ACTH and cortisol levels due to remaining pituitary tissue. E24.1 sits in the ICD-10-CM chapter for endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (e00-e89), within the section covering disorders of other endocrine glands (e20-e35).
Under the older CMS-HCC V24 model, E24.1 maps to Other Significant Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (HCC 23) with a community, non-dual, aged base RAF weight of 0.194. V28 is the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model that reached 100% phase-in for payment year 2026, replacing V24 which was used during the PY2024–PY2025 transition.
This code is specific to post-surgical pituitary tumor removal; document the history of pituitary surgery. Because E24.1 maps to a payment HCC, the provider's documentation must satisfy MEAT criteria (Monitor, Evaluate, Assess, or Treat) for the encounter to count toward the patient's Medicare Advantage risk adjustment score. When documentation is ambiguous, coders should issue a provider query rather than assume the highest-specificity variant.
HCC Buddy maintains structured V28 and V24 mapping, RAF weights, and MEAT documentation criteria for E24.1 sourced directly from the CMS-HCC risk adjustment model files and the CMS ICD-10-CM code set.
Coding Tips
- •This code is specific to post-surgical pituitary tumor removal; document the history of pituitary surgery
- •Often associated with a history of Cushing's disease that was surgically treated
Clinical Significance
Nelson syndrome is a rare but serious complication that develops after bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing disease, where the pre-existing pituitary corticotroph adenoma grows aggressively due to loss of cortisol negative feedback. It manifests with skin hyperpigmentation, elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone, and potentially invasive pituitary tumor behavior.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Document the history of bilateral adrenalectomy for Cushing disease, current adrenocorticotropic hormone levels, pituitary MRI showing tumor growth, skin hyperpigmentation, visual field assessment, and current management (radiation therapy, repeat surgery, medical therapy).