2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I63.81Other cerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of small artery

ICD-10-CM Codes›I00–I99›I60-I69›I63

ICD-10-CM I63.81
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

I63.81 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other cerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of small artery. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Cerebral infarction.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
I63.81
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other cerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of small artery
Short Description
Other cereb infrc due to occls or stenosis of small artery
Parent Code
I63.8
Other cerebral infarction

Code Classification

ChapterI00–I99Diseases of the circulatory system
SectionI60-I69Cerebrovascular diseases
CategoryI63Cerebral infarction
This CodeI63.81Other cerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of small artery

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute lacunar infarction
  • Hemianesthesia
  • Lacunar infarction
  • Multiple lacunar infarcts
  • Pure motor lacunar infarction
  • Pure sensorimotor lacunar infarction
  • Pure sensory lacunar infarction
  • Sequela of lacunar stroke

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Lacunar infarction

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Infarct, infarction
      • cerebral (acute)
        • due to
          • occlusion NEC
            • small artery
    • Infarct, infarction
      • cerebral (acute)
        • due to
          • stenosis NEC
            • small artery
    • Infarct, infarction
      • lacunar

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR CIR020
Cerebral infarction
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Cerebral Infarction

    the formation of an area of necrosis in the cerebrum caused by an insufficiency of arterial or venous blood flow. infarcts of the cerebrum are generally classified by hemisphere (i.e., left vs. right), lobe (e.g., frontal lobe infarction), arterial distribution (e.g., infarction, anterior cerebral artery), and etiology (e.g., embolic infarction).

  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery

    necrosis occurring in the middle cerebral artery distribution system which brings blood to the entire lateral aspects of each cerebral hemisphere. clinical signs include impaired cognition; aphasia; agraphia; weak and numbness in the face and arms, contralaterally or bilaterally depending on the infarction.

Patient EducationClinical

Ischemic Stroke

A stroke happens when there is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain. Your brain cells cannot get the oxygen and nutrients they need from blood, and they start to die within a few minutes. This can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

The full article covers:

  • What is an ischemic stroke?
  • What causes an ischemic stroke?
  • What are the symptoms of ischemic stroke?
  • How is an ischemic stroke diagnosed?
  • How is an ischemic stroke treated?
  • Can an ischemic stroke be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement I63.81 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • I63.8 - Other cerebral infarction
FY 2019AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2018.
FY 2020–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About I63.81Overview

Is I63.81 (Other cerebral infarction) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other cerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of small artery on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

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.