Cardiomegaly

This code represents an enlarged heart, which is a non-specific finding indicating the heart muscle is abnormally large. It is a sign of an underlying cardiac condition rather than a primary disease itself.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states "cardiomegaly" without further specification of its cause. This is appropriate when the etiology is unknown, or when the provider has not yet determined or documented the specific underlying condition leading to the heart enlargement.

• Do not use this code if the cardiomegaly is documented as being due to hypertension or hypertension with chronic kidney disease; refer to the Excludes1 notes.
• Always query the provider for the underlying cause of cardiomegaly if not documented, as a more specific code may be available.
• This code is often sequenced as a secondary diagnosis, with the primary diagnosis being the underlying condition causing the cardiomegaly once identified.