Unspecified cirrhosis of liver

This code signifies the end-stage liver disease characterized by irreversible scarring and impaired liver function, where the specific etiology of the cirrhosis has not been determined or documented. It represents a chronic and progressive condition leading to significant morbidity and mortality.

Use this code when medical record documentation confirms a diagnosis of cirrhosis but does not specify the underlying cause (e.g., alcoholic, viral, biliary, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). This is appropriate when the provider explicitly states "cirrhosis, unspecified" or when extensive workup has failed to identify the etiology.

• Avoid using this code if the etiology of cirrhosis is known; instead, code to the specific type of cirrhosis (e.g., K70.30 for alcoholic cirrhosis).
• Always review the entire medical record for any clues regarding the cause of cirrhosis before defaulting to "unspecified."
• Query the provider if the documentation states "cirrhosis" without further specification, to ascertain if a more specific code can be assigned.