Abdominal pain of multiple sites

This diagnosis code signifies abdominal discomfort or pain that is reported by the patient as occurring in more than one distinct area of the abdomen. It indicates that the pain is not confined to a single quadrant or region, but rather affects several different sites simultaneously or intermittently.

Apply this code when documentation clearly states "abdominal pain of multiple sites" or describes pain affecting, for example, both the upper and lower abdomen, or the right and left sides. This code is appropriate when the physician's assessment specifically identifies the pain as multifocal rather than generalized or localized to a single area.

• Ensure the documentation explicitly states "multiple sites" or lists several distinct abdominal regions affected by pain.
• Review Excludes1 notes carefully; do not code this with generalized abdominal pain (R10.0, R10.84) or localized pain (R10.1-R10.4-).
• Always seek a more specific diagnosis if the underlying cause of the abdominal pain is identified. This code is for symptomatic reporting when the etiology is unknown or not yet confirmed.