Secondary biliary cirrhosis

This code represents a chronic liver disease characterized by progressive destruction of the bile ducts, leading to cholestasis and ultimately cirrhosis. It is termed "secondary" because it arises from an identifiable obstruction or injury to the biliary system, rather than an autoimmune process.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates cirrhosis resulting from a specific, non-autoimmune cause affecting the bile ducts, such as prolonged obstruction from gallstones, strictures, or surgical injury. Supporting documentation should specify the underlying cause of the biliary obstruction.

• Differentiate from primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), which is an autoimmune condition.
• Always code the underlying cause of the secondary biliary cirrhosis first, if known and still present.
• Ensure documentation specifies "secondary" to avoid confusion with other forms of cirrhosis.