Absent nipple

This code signifies the congenital absence of the nipple, a rare developmental anomaly. It can occur unilaterally or bilaterally, often as an isolated finding or in association with other congenital conditions affecting the breast or chest wall.

Use this code when documentation explicitly states the patient has an absent nipple, whether congenital or acquired due to trauma or surgery (though congenital is more common for this specific code). Supporting documentation should clearly identify the absence of the nipple structure.

• Differentiate from hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the nipple, which would be coded differently.
• Consider additional codes for any associated congenital anomalies or syndromes.
• Specify laterality (left, right, bilateral) if documented, using appropriate laterality modifiers or additional codes if available within the ICD-10-CM structure for laterality.