Version 2024
No Valid Principal Dx

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R10.81

Abdominal tenderness

ICD-10-CM Code:
R10.81
ICD-10 Code for:
Abdominal tenderness
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
    (R00–R99)
    • Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
      (R10-R19)
      • Abdominal and pelvic pain
        (R10)

R10.81 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of abdominal tenderness. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

According to ICD-10-CM guidelines this code should not to be used as a principal diagnosis code when a related definitive diagnosis has been established.

Specific Coding Applicable to Abdominal tenderness

Non-specific codes like R10.81 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for abdominal tenderness:

  • Use R10.811 for Right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.812 for Left upper quadrant abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.813 for Right lower quadrant abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.814 for Left lower quadrant abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.815 for Periumbilic abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.816 for Epigastric abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.817 for Generalized abdominal tenderness - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use R10.819 for Abdominal tenderness, unspecified site - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Information

  • Abdominal Pain

    sensation of discomfort, distress, or agony in the abdominal region.

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Inclusion Terms

Inclusion Terms
These terms are the conditions for which that code is to be used. The terms may be synonyms of the code title, or, in the case of "other specified" codes, the terms are a list of the various conditions assigned to that code. The inclusion terms are not necessarily exhaustive. Additional terms found only in the Alphabetic Index may also be assigned to a code.
  • Abdominal tenderness NOS

Patient Education


Abdominal Pain

Your abdomen extends from below your chest to your groin. Some people call it the stomach, but your abdomen contains many other important organs. Pain in the abdomen can come from any one of them. The pain may start somewhere else, such as your chest. Severe pain doesn't always mean a serious problem. Nor does mild pain mean a problem is not serious.

Call your health care provider if mild pain lasts a week or more or if you have pain with other symptoms. Get medical help immediately if:

  • You have abdominal pain that is sudden and sharp
  • You also have pain in your chest, neck or shoulder
  • You're vomiting blood or have blood in your stool
  • Your abdomen is stiff, hard and tender to touch
  • You can't move your bowels, especially if you're also vomiting

[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.