Epigastric abdominal tenderness

This code signifies the presence of pain or discomfort upon palpation of the epigastric region of the abdomen. It indicates a physical finding rather than a definitive diagnosis, often pointing to underlying gastrointestinal, cardiac, or other systemic issues.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states "epigastric tenderness" as a finding during a physical examination. It is appropriate when the cause of the tenderness is not yet definitively diagnosed or when it is the primary symptom being addressed.

• Do not use this code if a more specific diagnosis for the epigastric tenderness (e.g., gastritis, peptic ulcer disease) is documented.
• Consider sequencing this code as a secondary diagnosis if a definitive underlying condition is also coded.
• Ensure the medical record clearly specifies "tenderness" and its "epigastric" location to support code assignment.