Cerebral infarction due to embolism of basilar artery

This code signifies a stroke resulting from a blockage in the basilar artery caused by an embolus (a traveling clot or other material). The basilar artery supplies blood to critical brainstem structures, and its occlusion can lead to severe neurological deficits. This condition is a type of ischemic stroke.

Use this code when documentation clearly states a cerebral infarction (ischemic stroke) and specifies the cause as an embolism affecting the basilar artery. Supporting documentation typically includes imaging reports (e.g., MRI, CT angiography) confirming basilar artery occlusion and physician notes detailing the embolic etiology.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "embolism" as the cause, not "thrombosis," as these are distinct etiologies.
• Verify that the infarction is specifically located in the cerebrum and attributed to the basilar artery.
• Do not use this code if the cause is thrombosis of the basilar artery; a different code exists for that specific scenario.