Microscopic colitis, unspecified

This code identifies a form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, and normal endoscopic findings, but with microscopic inflammation on biopsy. It specifically refers to microscopic colitis where the subtype (e.g., collagenous or lymphocytic) is not specified in the medical record.

Apply this code when the provider's documentation confirms a diagnosis of microscopic colitis, but does not further specify whether it is collagenous or lymphocytic. This typically occurs when biopsy results indicate microscopic colitis without further differentiation, or when the provider simply states "microscopic colitis" without additional detail.

• Do not use this code if the documentation specifies either collagenous or lymphocytic colitis; use the more specific codes.
• Ensure the medical record supports the diagnosis of microscopic colitis, usually through pathology reports.
• Consider sequencing this code after symptoms like chronic diarrhea (R19.7) if the diagnosis is still provisional.