E24.4

HCC Category Mapping

What This Code Means

A condition that mimics Cushing's syndrome in people with heavy alcohol use, where cortisol levels appear elevated but resolve with abstinence from alcohol.

Coding Tips

• •Document alcohol use disorder in conjunction with this code
• •This is a pseudo-Cushing's state; distinguish from true Cushing's syndrome in the clinical assessment

Clinical Significance

Alcohol-induced pseudo-Cushing syndrome mimics true Cushing syndrome biochemically with elevated cortisol levels in patients with chronic heavy alcohol use. Unlike true Cushing syndrome, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis abnormalities resolve with sustained alcohol abstinence, distinguishing it as a reversible condition.

Documentation Requirements

• ✓Document the history of chronic alcohol use disorder, cortisol levels and dynamic testing results, physical examination findings consistent with cushingoid appearance, and clinical improvement with alcohol cessation.
• ✓Document alcohol use disorder as a concurrent diagnosis.

Commonly Confused Codes