Coding Chronic Inactive Gastritis

Chronic inactive gastritis is often noted in an EGD result or path report. 

It is important to still code this, even though it is “inactive” as it can still greatly affect the patient’s quality of life and can increase the risk of developing stomach cancer in the future.  In some cases, untreated inactive gastritis can progress to active gastritis, which may require more aggressive treatment. 

INACTIVE VS ACTIVE Gastritis 

Inactive: chronic inflammation of stomach lining without tissue damage or injury 

Active: chronic inflammation with presence of neutrophils in stomach lining, with ongoing tissue damage or injury (example: with infection or ulceration) 

The neutrophils being there show the immune system is attempting to actively fight an issue. 

ICD-10 Codes don’t differentiate between active & inactive gastritis: 

K29.50 chronic gastritis without bleeding 

K29.51 chronic gastritis with bleeding 

Add code for infection, if that applies (example: B96.81 for Helicobacter pylori) 

Other specified gastritis has specific codes (atrophic, superficial, alcoholic, etc. – see ICD-10 index) 

What This Means in Practice 

• Code chronic gastritis, even if documented as inactive 
• Code to highest specificity according to ICD-10-CM index and tabular 
• Code any secondary conditions that further explain in detail the patient’s condition