Pectus excavatum

This code represents a congenital chest wall deformity characterized by a caved-in or sunken appearance of the sternum and rib cage. It is the most common congenital chest wall malformation, resulting from abnormal growth of the costal cartilages. The severity can range from mild cosmetic indentation to severe compression of the heart and lungs.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates a diagnosis of pectus excavatum. This applies to both asymptomatic cases and those presenting with symptoms such as dyspnea, chest pain, or exercise intolerance. Supporting documentation typically includes physical exam findings, imaging reports (e.g., chest X-ray, CT scan), and physician notes.

• Do not confuse with pectus carinatum (pigeon chest), which is a protrusion of the sternum.
• Code any associated symptoms (e.g., dyspnea R06.02, chest pain R07.x) or complications (e.g., cardiac compression I51.89) separately.
• Ensure the physician's documentation specifies "pectus excavatum" to avoid miscoding other chest wall deformities.