M46.83

Billable

Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervicothoracic 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

A non-infectious inflammatory condition at the junction between the neck and upper back, affecting the cervicothoracic region of the spine.

Coding Tips

•Confirm the inflammation is at the cervicothoracic junction and not isolated to cervical or thoracic regions
•Document any associated systemic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions

Clinical Significance

Inflammatory conditions at the cervicothoracic junction represent complex management challenges due to the unique biomechanics of this transitional zone and potential for both cervical and thoracic complications. These conditions require specialized anti-inflammatory approaches and monitoring.

Documentation Requirements

✓Cervicothoracic junction involvement (C7-T1)
✓Non-infectious inflammatory process confirmed
✓Imaging of transitional zone inflammation
✓Assessment of both cervical and thoracic function
✓Inflammatory marker monitoring
✓Response to targeted anti-inflammatory therapy
✓Biomechanical assessment of junction
✓Long-term functional outcomes

Commonly Confused Codes

M46.53 — Infective spondylopathy same region when infectious M46.82 — Cervical region when limited to cervical spine M46.84 — Thoracic region when limited to thoracic spine M48.02 — Cervical stenosis when structural rather than inflammatory

Code Hierarchy

└M46Other inflammatory spondylopathies └M46.8Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies └M46.83Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervicothoracic region

└M46.83Other specified inflammatory spondylopathies, cervicothoracic region