Acquired absence of kidney

This code indicates a patient no longer has a kidney due to a surgical removal (nephrectomy) or other acquired cause, as opposed to a congenital condition. It signifies the absence of a kidney that was once present and functioning.

Apply this code for patients who have undergone a nephrectomy, whether unilateral or bilateral, for conditions such as renal cell carcinoma, severe trauma, or end-stage renal disease. It is also appropriate for cases where a kidney has atrophied or been destroyed due to disease processes.

• Always code the underlying reason for the nephrectomy or kidney loss if it is still an active condition.
• Distinguish carefully from congenital absence of kidney (renal agenesis), which uses codes from category Q60.
• Do not use this code if the patient has a transplanted kidney; use codes from category Z94.0 for kidney transplant status.