ICD-10-CM 2027
ICD-10 code for tenderness
From the official ICD-10-CM alphabetic index entry “Tenderness, abdominal”. Page updated September 29, 2026.
About coding tenderness
The ICD-10-CM code for tenderness is R10.819 (Abdominal tenderness, unspecified site). The official index lists 23 more specific codes, so check the documentation for details such as type, cause, site or severity before settling on R10.819.
Within R10.81, choose R10.819 (unspecified site) only when documentation doesn't support a more specific option: right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness (R10.811), left upper quadrant abdominal tenderness (R10.812), right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness (R10.813), left lower quadrant abdominal tenderness (R10.814), periumbilic abdominal tenderness (R10.815), epigastric abdominal tenderness (R10.816) and generalized abdominal tenderness (R10.817).
It is not a CC or MCC, so as a secondary diagnosis it doesn't change the MS-DRG severity level.
In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 391 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders with MCC, relative weight 1.2392) and DRG 392 (Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis and Miscellaneous Digestive Disorders without MCC, relative weight 0.7645), in MDC 06 (Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.
More specific tenderness codes (official index)
- costovertebral (angle) R39.859 — Costovertebral (angle) tenderness, unspecified side
- bilateral R39.853 — Costovertebral (angle) tenderness, bilateral
- left R39.852 — Costovertebral (angle) tenderness, left side
- right R39.851 — Costovertebral (angle) tenderness, right side
- epigastric R10.816 — Epigastric abdominal tenderness
- flank R10.8A9 — Flank tenderness, unspecified
- left R10.8A2 — Left flank tenderness
- right R10.8A1 — Right flank tenderness
- generalized R10.817 — Generalized abdominal tenderness
- left lower quadrant R10.814 — Left lower quadrant abdominal tenderness
- left upper quadrant R10.812 — Left upper quadrant abdominal tenderness
- periumbilic R10.815 — Periumbilic abdominal tenderness
- right lower quadrant R10.813 — Right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness
- right upper quadrant R10.811 — Right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness
- rebound R10.829 — Rebound abdominal tenderness, unspecified site
- epigastric R10.826 — Epigastric rebound abdominal tenderness
- generalized R10.827 — Generalized rebound abdominal tenderness
- left lower quadrant R10.824 — Left lower quadrant rebound abdominal tenderness
- left upper quadrant R10.822 — Left upper quadrant rebound abdominal tenderness
- periumbilic R10.825 — Periumbilic rebound abdominal tenderness
- right lower quadrant R10.823 — Right lower quadrant rebound abdominal tenderness
- right upper quadrant R10.821 — Right upper quadrant rebound abdominal tenderness
- suprapubic R10.8A3 — Suprapubic tenderness
Common questions about tenderness ICD-10 codes
What is the ICD-10 code for tenderness?
- R10.819 — Abdominal tenderness, unspecified site. More specific codes apply when the documentation supports them: R39.859, R39.853, R39.852, R39.851 and others below.
What is the ICD-10 code for costovertebral tenderness?
- R39.859 — Costovertebral (angle) tenderness, unspecified side.
What is the ICD-10 code for epigastric tenderness?
- R10.816 — Epigastric abdominal tenderness.
What is the ICD-10 code for flank tenderness?
- R10.8A9 — Flank tenderness, unspecified.
What is the ICD-10 code for generalized tenderness?
- R10.817 — Generalized abdominal tenderness.
What is the ICD-10 code for left lower quadrant tenderness?
- R10.814 — Left lower quadrant abdominal tenderness.
What is the ICD-10 code for left upper quadrant tenderness?
- R10.812 — Left upper quadrant abdominal tenderness.
Is R10.819 billable?
- Yes. R10.819 is a billable/specific ICD-10-CM code valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).
Can R10.819 be used as a principal diagnosis?
- Yes. The Medicare Code Editor doesn't restrict R10.819 as a principal diagnosis.
Is R10.819 a CC or MCC?
- No. R10.819 is neither a CC nor an MCC under MS-DRG v44.0.