Barrett's esophagus with low grade dysplasia

This code signifies a precancerous condition where the normal squamous lining of the esophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium, accompanied by low-grade cellular changes indicative of dysplasia. It specifically identifies the presence of Barrett's esophagus with a mild degree of abnormal cell growth.

Apply this code when documentation explicitly states a diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus with confirmed low-grade dysplasia, typically identified through endoscopic biopsy and subsequent histopathological examination. This diagnosis often follows chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

• Ensure the pathology report explicitly states "low-grade dysplasia" in the context of Barrett's esophagus.
• Do not use if high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma is present; separate codes exist for those conditions.
• Sequence this code as the primary diagnosis when it is the reason for the encounter, such as for surveillance endoscopy.