Cerebral infarction, unspecified

This code represents an ischemic stroke where a portion of the brain tissue has died due to a lack of blood supply, but the specific cause or type of infarction is not documented. It signifies irreversible brain damage resulting from cerebral ischemia.

Use this code when the medical record clearly indicates a cerebral infarction has occurred, but there is no further specificity regarding its etiology (e.g., thrombotic, embolic, lacunar). Documentation supporting its use would typically include imaging reports confirming infarction and physician notes diagnosing a stroke without further detail.

• Avoid using this code if the documentation provides specific details about the type or cause of the cerebral infarction; instead, code to the highest level of specificity.
• Be mindful of the Excludes2 note; do not use this code for transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or related syndromes.
• Always review the entire medical record to ensure no further information is available before assigning an unspecified code.