Alcoholic fatty liver

This code represents the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease, characterized by the accumulation of fat (steatosis) within liver cells due to excessive alcohol consumption. It is a potentially reversible condition where the liver's normal metabolic processes are disrupted by alcohol, leading to lipid deposition.

Assign this code when documentation explicitly states "alcoholic fatty liver," "alcoholic steatosis," or "fatty liver due to alcohol." This diagnosis is typically supported by a history of significant alcohol intake and imaging findings (e.g., ultrasound, CT, MRI) or liver biopsy showing steatosis.

• Do not use this code for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); refer to codes in the K76.0 category for those cases.
• Always query for clarification if documentation states "fatty liver" without specifying an alcoholic etiology, as the treatment and prognosis differ significantly.
• Consider sequencing this code as a principal diagnosis if it is the primary reason for the encounter, or as a secondary diagnosis if it is a co-morbidity impacting patient care.