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R19.36

Billable

Epigastric abdominal rigidity

This code does not map to an HCC category in any model (V28, V24, ESRD, RxHCC).

What This Code Means

Stiffness or hardness of the abdominal muscles in the upper central area just below the breastbone, often associated with stomach or upper abdominal organ issues.

Coding Tips

  • •Correlate with symptoms like upper abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting to establish clinical significance
  • •Differentiate from periumbilic rigidity (R19.35) by confirming the location is in the epigastric region

Code Hierarchy

└R19Other symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen└R19.3Abdominal rigidity└R19.36Epigastric abdominal rigidity
└R19.36Epigastric abdominal rigidity

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