K51.014
BillableUlcerative (chronic) pancolitis with abscess
HCC Category Mapping
V28HCC 81 — Ulcerative Colitis
0.000V24HCC 35 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease
0.289ESRDHCC 35 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease
0.000RxHCCHCC 67 — Inflammatory Bowel Disease
0.000What This Code Means
A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the entire colon that has resulted in a localized collection of pus (abscess). This represents a serious infectious complication of ulcerative colitis.
Coding Tips
- •Document the location of the abscess and whether it has been drained or treated
- •Ensure the abscess is a direct complication of the ulcerative pancolitis rather than a separate infection
Clinical Significance
Ulcerative pancolitis with abscess represents an infectious complication of chronic colonic inflammation where a walled-off collection of pus has formed. This indicates severe disease with potential for sepsis and typically requires antibiotic therapy, percutaneous drainage, or surgical intervention, significantly increasing healthcare resource utilization.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Confirmed diagnosis of ulcerative colitis with pancolitis
- ✓Imaging evidence of abscess (CT abdomen/pelvis, MRI, or ultrasound)
- ✓Location and size of the abscess documented
- ✓Provider statement linking the abscess to the ulcerative colitis
- ✓Treatment plan including antibiotics, drainage procedure, or surgical consultation
- ✓Culture results if drainage was performed
Commonly Confused Codes
K51.014 vs K63.0 — K63.0 is abscess of intestine not related to inflammatory bowel disease; use K51.014 when directly caused by ulcerative colitisK51.014 vs K61.x — K61 codes are for anorectal abscess; use K51.014 when the abscess is a complication of pancolitisK51.014 vs K51.013 — K51.013 is pancolitis with fistula; abscess and fistula are different complicationsK51.014 vs K50.014 — K50.014 is Crohn disease of small intestine with abscess
Code Hierarchy
└K51Ulcerative colitis└K51.0Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis└K51.01Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with complications└K51.014Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with abscess
└K51.014Ulcerative (chronic) pancolitis with abscess