2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G12.20

Motor neuron disease, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:
G12.20
ICD-10 Code for:
Motor neuron disease, unspecified
Is Billable?
Yes - Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the nervous system
    (G00–G99)
    • Systemic atrophies primarily affecting the central nervous system
      (G10-G14)
      • Spinal muscular atrophy and related syndromes
        (G12)

G12.20 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of motor neuron disease, unspecified. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like G12.20 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Bilateral upper motor neurone lesion
  • Corticospinal motor disease
  • Frontal lobe degeneration with motor neurone disease
  • Lesion of left upper motor neuron
  • Lesion of right upper motor neuron
  • Lower motor neuron disease
  • Mills syndrome
  • Motor neuron disease
  • Motor neuron disease due to gammopathy
  • Motor neuron disease due to hereditary spastic paraplegia
  • Motor neuron disease due to human immunodeficiency virus infection
  • Motor neuron disease due to lead intoxication
  • Upper motor neuron disease
  • Upper motor neurone lesion

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

    a degenerative disorder affecting upper motor neurons in the brain and lower motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. disease onset is usually after the age of 50 and the process is usually fatal within 3 to 6 years. clinical manifestations include progressive weakness, atrophy, fasciculation, hyperreflexia, dysarthria, dysphagia, and eventual paralysis of respiratory function. pathologic features include the replacement of motor neurons with fibrous astrocytes and atrophy of anterior spinal nerve roots and corticospinal tracts. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp1089-94)
  • Motor Neuron Disease

    diseases characterized by a selective degeneration of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, brainstem, or motor cortex. clinical subtypes are distinguished by the major site of degeneration. in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis there is involvement of upper, lower, and brainstem motor neurons. in progressive muscular atrophy and related syndromes (see muscular atrophy, spinal) the motor neurons in the spinal cord are primarily affected. with progressive bulbar palsy (bulbar palsy, progressive), the initial degeneration occurs in the brainstem. in primary lateral sclerosis, the cortical neurons are affected in isolation. (adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p1089)

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

Convert G12.20 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 335.29 - Motor neuron disease NEC
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that attacks nerve cells called neurons in your brain and spinal cord. These neurons transmit messages from your brain and spinal cord to your voluntary muscles - the ones you can control, like in your arms and legs. At first, this causes mild muscle problems. Some people notice:

  • Trouble walking or running
  • Trouble writing
  • Speech problems

Eventually, you lose your strength and cannot move. When muscles in your chest fail, you cannot breathe. A breathing machine can help, but most people with ALS die from respiratory failure.

The disease usually strikes between age 40 and 60. More men than women get it. No one knows what causes ALS. It can run in families, but usually it strikes at random. There is no cure. Medicines can relieve symptoms and, sometimes, prolong survival.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Neuromuscular Disorders

Neuromuscular disorders affect your neuromuscular system. They can cause problems with:

  • The nerves that control your muscles
  • Your muscles
  • Communication between your nerves and muscles

These disorders can cause your muscles to become weak and waste away. You may also have symptoms such as spasms, twitching, and pain.

Examples of neuromuscular disorders include:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Spinal muscular atrophy

There can be different causes for these diseases. Many of them are genetic.This means they are inherited (run in families) or are caused by a new mutation in your genes. Some neuromuscular disorders are autoimmune diseases. Sometimes the cause is unknown.

Many neuromuscular diseases have no cure. But treatments may improve symptoms, increase mobility, and lengthen life.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Chronic - a chronic condition code indicates a condition lasting 12 months or longer and its effect on the patient based on one or both of the following criteria:

  • The condition results in the need for ongoing intervention with medical products,treatment, services, and special equipment
  • The condition places limitations on self-care, independent living, and social interactions.