Refractory anemia with excess of blasts, unspecified

This code describes a type of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and an excess of immature blast cells in the bone marrow or peripheral blood, without further specification of the blast percentage. Patients typically present with anemia and may experience fatigue, pallor, and increased risk of infection or bleeding. It represents a pre-leukemic condition with a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Use this code when documentation specifies refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB) but does not provide the specific percentage of blasts (e.g., RAEB-1 or RAEB-2). This diagnosis is typically made based on bone marrow biopsy findings and peripheral blood counts. Documentation should clearly state "refractory anemia with excess blasts, unspecified" or similar.

• Do not use this code if the blast percentage is known and documented (e.g., 5-9% or 10-19%), as more specific codes exist.
• Always review the pathology report and hematology notes for precise blast counts to ensure the most specific code is selected.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter or hospitalization.