Created Dec 2015
Reviewed Dec 2019
Query
Our trainees have discovered that there are two different ICD-10-AM Alphabetic Index pathways for chronic tonsillitis with hypertrophy:
Tonsillitis (acute) (follicular) (gangrenous) (infective) (lingual) (septic) (subacute) (ulcerative) J03.9
- hypertrophic J35.0
Hypertrophy, hypertrophic
- tonsils (faucial) (infective) (lingual) (lymphoid) J35.1
Should both codes (J35.0 and J35.1) for this disease concept be assigned or should a combined code be used?
Response
Hypertrophy of the tonsils is a symptom of tonsillitis. Therefore, assign J35.0 Chronic tonsillitis only according to the lead term ‘tonsillitis’ in the ICD-10-AM Alphabetic Index.