Occlusion and stenosis of unspecified cerebral artery

This code signifies a blockage or narrowing within a cerebral artery, the specific vessel of which is not identified in the medical record. This condition can restrict blood flow to the brain, potentially leading to ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) symptoms.

Apply this code when documentation indicates an occlusion or stenosis of a cerebral artery, but the specific artery (e.g., middle cerebral, anterior cerebral, posterior cerebral) is not specified. This is often used when imaging reports or physician notes describe a cerebral artery narrowing without further anatomical detail.

• Avoid using this code if a more specific cerebral artery is documented; always code to the highest level of specificity.
• Consider sequencing this code with an acute cerebral infarction (I63.-) if the occlusion resulted in a stroke.
• Ensure documentation clearly states "unspecified" or lacks detail regarding the specific cerebral artery involved.