R18.0

Malignant ascites

Billable / specificHCC V28 17

R18.0 is a billable, specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes in FY2027.

Inclusion terms

Includes (from R18)

  • fluid in peritoneal cavity
  • Note: This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Note: Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • Note: The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • Note: (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • Note: (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • Note: (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • Note: (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • Note: (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • Note: (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

Excludes1

Not coded here — never report together with this code.

  • ascites in alcoholic cirrhosis (K70.31) (from R18)
  • ascites in alcoholic hepatitis (K70.11) (from R18)
  • ascites in toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis (K71.51) (from R18)

Excludes2

Not included here — may be reported together when both conditions exist.

  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-) (from R18)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96) (from R18)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters (from R18)
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5) (from R18)
  • congenital or infantile pylorospasm (Q40.0) (from R18)
  • gastrointestinal hemorrhage (K92.0-K92.2) (from R18)
  • intestinal obstruction (K56.-) (from R18)
  • newborn gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P54.0-P54.3) (from R18)
  • newborn intestinal obstruction (P76.-) (from R18)
  • pylorospasm (K31.3) (from R18)
  • signs and symptoms involving the urinary system (R30-R39) (from R18)
  • symptoms referable to female genital organs (N94.-) (from R18)
  • symptoms referable to male genital organs (N48-N50) (from R18)

Code first

Sequence the underlying condition first.

  • malignancy, such as:
  • malignant neoplasm of ovary (C56.-)
  • secondary malignant neoplasm of retroperitoneum and peritoneum (C78.6)

Also known as

  • Ascites, malignant

Parent code

  • R18AscitesHeader

Related codes

  • R18.8Other ascitesBillable

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