ICD-10-CM Codes
R00-R99 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
R10-R19 Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
R18- Ascites
2021 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R18

2021 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R18

Ascites

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

R18 should not be used for reimbursement purposes as there are multiple codes below it that contain a greater level of detail.
The 2021 edition of ICD-10-CM R18 became effective on October 1, 2020.
This is the American ICD-10-CM version of R18 - other international versions of ICD-10 R18 may differ.

Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes Help

A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes. It means "not coded here". A type 1 excludes note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as R18. A type 1 excludes note is for used for when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.

ascites in alcoholic cirrhosis (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K70.31
Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver with ascites
K70.31
)
ascites in alcoholic hepatitis (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K70.11
Alcoholic hepatitis with ascites
K70.11
)
ascites in toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K71.51
Toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis with ascites
K71.51
)

Includes

Includes Help

"Includes" further defines, or give examples of, the content of the code or category.

fluid in peritoneal cavity

The following code(s) above R18 contain annotation back-references

Annotation Back-References

In this context, annotation back-references refer to codes that contain:

Applicable To annotations, or
Code Also annotations, or
Code First annotations, or
Excludes1 annotations, or
Excludes2 annotations, or
Includes annotations, or
Note annotations, or
Use Additional annotations

that may be applicable to R18:

R00-R99
2021 ICD-10-CM Range R00-R99
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
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.
- 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.
- The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
- (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
- (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
- (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
- (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
- (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
- (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.
Type 2 Excludes
- abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
- signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)
Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
R10-R19
2021 ICD-10-CM Range R10-R19
Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
Type 2 Excludes
- congenital or infantile pylorospasm (Q40.0)
- gastrointestinal hemorrhage (K92.0-K92.2)
- intestinal obstruction (K56.-)
- newborn gastrointestinal hemorrhage (P54.0-P54.3)
- newborn intestinal obstruction (P76.-)
- pylorospasm (K31.3)
- signs and symptoms involving the urinary system (R30-R39)
- symptoms referable to female genital organs (N94.-)
- symptoms referable to male genital organs (N48-N50)
Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen

Clinical Information

(ah-sye-teez) abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
A disorder characterized by accumulation of serous or hemorrhagic fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen that may cause swelling. In late-stage cancer, tumor cells may be found in the fluid in the abdomen. Ascites also occurs in patients with liver disease.
Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The fluid may be serous, hemorrhagic, or the result of tumor metastasis to the peritoneum.
Accumulation or retention of free fluid within the peritoneal cavity.
An abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
Effusion and accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity.

Code History

2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change
2021 (effective 10/1/2020): No change

Code annotations containing back-references to R18:

Type 1 Excludes: R19.0
, R60

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R19.0
Intra-abdominal and pelvic swelling, mass and lump
Type 1 Excludes
- abdominal distension (gaseous) (R14.-)
- ascites (R18.-)
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R60
Edema, not elsewhere classified
Type 1 Excludes
- angioneurotic edema (T78.3)
- ascites (R18.-)
- cerebral edema (G93.6)
- cerebral edema due to birth injury (P11.0)
- edema of larynx (J38.4)
- edema of nasopharynx (J39.2)
- edema of pharynx (J39.2)
- gestational edema (O12.0-)
- hereditary edema (Q82.0)
- hydrops fetalis NOS (P83.2)
- hydrothorax (J94.8)
- newborn edema (P83.3)
- pulmonary edema (J81.-)
Type 2 Excludes: K66

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K66
Other disorders of peritoneum
Type 2 Excludes
- ascites (R18.-)
- peritoneal effusion (chronic) (R18.8)

ICD-10-CM Codes Adjacent To R18

R15 Fecal incontinence

R15.0 Incomplete defecation

R15.1 Fecal smearing

R15.2 Fecal urgency

R15.9 Full incontinence of feces

R16 Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, not elsewhere classified

R16.0 Hepatomegaly, not elsewhere classified

R16.1 Splenomegaly, not elsewhere classified

R16.2 Hepatomegaly with splenomegaly, not elsewhere classified

R17 Unspecified jaundice

R18 Ascites

R18.0 Malignant ascites

R18.8 Other ascites

R19 Other symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen

R19.0 Intra-abdominal and pelvic swelling, mass and lump

R19.00 …… unspecified site

R19.01 Right upper quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump

R19.02 Left upper quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump

R19.03 Right lower quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump

R19.04 Left lower quadrant abdominal swelling, mass and lump

R19.05 Periumbilic swelling, mass or lump

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.

2021 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R18

Ascites

Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver with ascites

Alcoholic hepatitis with ascites

Toxic liver disease with chronic active hepatitis with ascites

Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified

Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen

Intra-abdominal and pelvic swelling, mass and lump

Edema, not elsewhere classified

Other disorders of peritoneum