Hepatic fibrosis, advanced fibrosis

This code represents a significant stage of liver scarring, specifically advanced fibrosis, which is a precursor to cirrhosis. It indicates extensive fibrous tissue accumulation in the liver, impairing its normal function but not yet reaching the irreversible stage of cirrhosis.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states "advanced hepatic fibrosis" or a similar term indicating a high degree of liver scarring without meeting the criteria for cirrhosis. This diagnosis is often supported by liver biopsy results (e.g., METAVIR F3, Ishak F3-F4) or non-invasive tests like elastography showing severe fibrosis.

• Do not code this with K74.6- (cirrhosis of liver) as advanced fibrosis is distinct from established cirrhosis.
• Ensure documentation specifies "advanced" fibrosis; otherwise, a less specific fibrosis code (e.g., K74.00) may be more appropriate.
• Always sequence this code after the underlying cause of the hepatic fibrosis, if known (e.g., chronic hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease).