K51.50
BillableLeft sided colitis without complications
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
Inflammation of the left side of the colon (descending and sigmoid colon) without any additional complications.
Coding Tips
- •Left sided colitis specifically refers to inflammation limited to the left colon; ensure the documentation specifies left-sided involvement
- •Use this code only when no complications are present; if complications exist, use the appropriate K51.51x code
Clinical Significance
Left-sided ulcerative colitis without complications indicates inflammation extending from the rectum to the splenic flexure (descending colon) without additional complications. This intermediate extent carries a moderate risk of disease progression and colorectal cancer, requiring regular colonoscopic surveillance and treatment with oral and topical aminosalicylates or immunomodulators.
Documentation Requirements
- ✓Colonoscopy confirming inflammation limited to the left colon (rectum to splenic flexure)
- ✓Biopsy results consistent with ulcerative colitis
- ✓Documentation that inflammation does not extend beyond the splenic flexure
- ✓Statement confirming no complications are present
- ✓Current treatment regimen and disease management plan
- ✓Surveillance colonoscopy schedule based on disease extent and duration
Commonly Confused Codes
K51.50 vs K51.30 — K51.30 is rectosigmoiditis (rectum and sigmoid only); left-sided colitis extends further to the descending colonK51.50 vs K51.00 — K51.00 is pancolitis (entire colon); left-sided colitis stops at the splenic flexureK51.50 vs K51.20 — K51.20 is proctitis (rectum only); left-sided colitis is more extensiveK51.50 vs K51.80 — K51.80 is other ulcerative colitis; left-sided has its own specific subcategory
Code Hierarchy
└K51Ulcerative colitis└K51.5Left sided colitis└K51.50Left sided colitis without complications
└K51.50Left sided colitis without complications