Acute maxillary sinusitis

This code signifies an acute inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the maxillary sinus. It typically presents with facial pain or pressure over the cheekbones, nasal congestion, and purulent discharge, developing rapidly and lasting less than four weeks.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates a recent onset of infection or inflammation specifically affecting the maxillary sinus. Supporting documentation includes physician notes detailing symptoms consistent with acute sinusitis, physical exam findings (e.g., tenderness over the maxilla), and potentially imaging results confirming maxillary sinus involvement.

• Differentiate from chronic maxillary sinusitis, which has a longer duration and different ICD-9-CM codes.
• Ensure the documentation specifies "acute" and "maxillary" to avoid coding to a more general or unspecified sinusitis code.
• Consider sequencing if an underlying cause (e.g., viral infection) is also documented and meets primary diagnosis criteria.