Cerebellar ataxia in diseases classified elsewhere

This code signifies cerebellar ataxia that arises as a secondary manifestation of another underlying disease process. It describes a neurological symptom characterized by impaired coordination, balance, and gait due to cerebellar dysfunction, where the primary cause is classified elsewhere in the ICD-9-CM system.

Use this code when documentation clearly indicates cerebellar ataxia as a symptom or complication of a primary condition, such as multiple sclerosis, paraneoplastic syndromes, or certain metabolic disorders. The medical record must specify both the ataxia and the underlying disease responsible for it.

• Always sequence the underlying disease first, as this code is for a manifestation of another condition.
• Do not use this code for primary or idiopathic cerebellar ataxias; those have their own specific codes.
• Ensure documentation explicitly links the ataxia to the specified underlying disease.