M46.54

Billable

Other infective spondylopathies, thoracic region

HCC Category Mapping

V24HCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.307

ESRDHCC 40 — Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Connective Tissue Disease

0.000

What This Code Means

An infection affecting the bones and discs of the thoracic (mid-back) spine, causing inflammation and potential damage to the vertebrae.

Coding Tips

•Verify the specific infectious organism (bacterial, fungal, or tuberculous) as it may require additional coding
•Ensure the thoracic region is confirmed; if infection extends to adjacent regions, consider M46.59 for multiple sites

Clinical Significance

Non-pyogenic thoracic spine infections, while uncommon, require specialized diagnostic approaches and treatment protocols distinct from bacterial infections. The thoracic location may present with atypical symptoms and requires careful evaluation for systemic involvement.

Documentation Requirements

✓Thoracic spine location (T1-T12)
✓Non-bacterial infectious organism identification
✓Thoracic spine imaging findings
✓Systemic infection assessment
✓Pulmonary function evaluation if indicated
✓Immunocompromised status documentation
✓Response to organism-specific therapy
✓Thoracic alignment and stability assessment

Commonly Confused Codes

M46.34 — Pyogenic thoracic discitis when bacterial etiology M46.55 — Thoracolumbar region when at T12-L1 junction M46.84 — Other inflammatory spondylopathies when non-infectious J98.4 — Other disorders of lung when pulmonary symptoms predominate

Code Hierarchy

└M46Other inflammatory spondylopathies └M46.5Other infective spondylopathies └M46.54Other infective spondylopathies, thoracic region

└M46.54Other infective spondylopathies, thoracic region