Indeterminate colitis

Indeterminate colitis refers to a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) where the features overlap between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, making a definitive diagnosis of either difficult. This diagnosis is typically made after histological examination of biopsy samples from the colon. It signifies an IBD that cannot be precisely classified at the time of diagnosis.

This code is used when a patient presents with symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, and endoscopic and histopathological findings are inconclusive for either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Documentation must explicitly state "indeterminate colitis" or describe findings that prevent definitive classification of IBD. It is often a temporary diagnosis while further evaluation is pending or if the disease remains unclassifiable.

• Do not use this code if the documentation clearly specifies Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Ensure the physician's documentation explicitly supports the "indeterminate" nature of the colitis.
• Review the medical record for any subsequent definitive diagnoses that would supersede this code.