2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R83.8Other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R83-R89›R83

ICD-10-CM R83.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

R83.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 91 through 93. As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Abnormal findings without diagnosis.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R83.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid
Short Description
Other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R83
Abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR83-R89Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis
CategoryR83Abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid
This CodeR83.8Other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • 5-hydroxyindoleacetate in cerebrospinal fluid above reference range
  • 5-hydroxyindoleacetate in cerebrospinal fluid below reference range
  • Abnormal histological findings in CSF
  • Abnormal histology findings
  • AD7c neuronal thread protein concentration in cerebrospinal fluid above reference range
  • Arginine in cerebrospinal fluid above reference range
  • Arginine in cerebrospinal fluid below reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid appearance cloudy
  • Cerebrospinal fluid chloride above reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid chloride below reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid chloride outside reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid electrophoresis outside reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid globulin above reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid globulin below reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid glucose above reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid glucose below reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid lactate above reference range
  • Cerebrospinal fluid lactate below reference range
  • Color of fluid - finding
  • Color of specimen - finding
  • CSF appearance turbid
  • CSF appearance - finding
  • CSF appearance: blood-stained
  • CSF appearance: xanthochromia
  • CSF protein electrophoretic profile - finding
  • CSF: chloride level - finding
  • CSF: glucose level - finding
  • CSF: protein level - finding
  • Finding of cerebrospinal fluid: globulin level
  • Glucose level below reference range
  • Increased cerebrospinal fluid production
  • Increased cerebrospinal fluid production due to benign papilloma of choroid plexus
  • Increased cerebrospinal fluid production due to choroid plexus carcinoma
  • Increased cerebrospinal fluid production due to hyperplasia of choroid plexus
  • Presence of xanthochromia
  • Protein electrophoresis outside reference range
  • Protein in cerebrospinal fluid above reference range
  • Saccharopine in cerebrospinal fluid above reference range
  • Saccharopine in cerebrospinal fluid below reference range
  • Specimen xanthochromic

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to R83.8: its own notes plus those printed at block R83-R89 and Chapter 18. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Applicable To

Conditions this code is used for: synonyms of the title or, for "other specified" codes, the conditions assigned to it. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Abnormal chromosomal findings in cerebrospinal fluid

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From Block R83-R89 Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis applies to 93 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • diagnostic abnormal findings classified elsewhere - see Alphabetical Index

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Block R83-R89 Abnormal findings on examination of other body fluids, substances and tissues, without diagnosis applies to 93 codes
  • abnormal findings on examination of blood, without diagnosis (R70-R79)
  • abnormal findings on examination of urine, without diagnosis (R80-R82)
  • abnormal tumor markers (R97.-)
From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)
  • certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
  • signs and symptoms classified in the body system chapters
  • signs and symptoms of breast (N63, N64.5)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 18 (R00-R99) Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified applies to 774 codes
  • This chapter includes symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures, and ill-defined conditions regarding which no diagnosis classifiable elsewhere is recorded.
  • Signs and symptoms that point rather definitely to a given diagnosis have been assigned to a category in other chapters of the classification. In general, categories in this chapter include the less well-defined conditions and symptoms that, without the necessary study of the case to establish a final diagnosis, point perhaps equally to two or more diseases or to two or more systems of the body. Practically all categories in the chapter could be designated 'not otherwise specified', 'unknown etiology' or 'transient'. The Alphabetical Index should be consulted to determine which symptoms and signs are to be allocated here and which to other chapters. The residual subcategories, numbered .8, are generally provided for other relevant symptoms that cannot be allocated elsewhere in the classification.
  • The conditions and signs or symptoms included in categories R00-R94 consist of:
  • (a) cases for which no more specific diagnosis can be made even after all the facts bearing on the case have been investigated;
  • (b) signs or symptoms existing at the time of initial encounter that proved to be transient and whose causes could not be determined;
  • (c) provisional diagnosis in a patient who failed to return for further investigation or care;
  • (d) cases referred elsewhere for investigation or treatment before the diagnosis was made;
  • (e) cases in which a more precise diagnosis was not available for any other reason;
  • (f) certain symptoms, for which supplementary information is provided, that represent important problems in medical care in their own right.

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM017
Abnormal findings without diagnosis
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Convert R83.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
792.0 Abn fnd-cerebrospinal fl
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About R83.8Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid?

The ICD-10-CM code for other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid is R83.8 (sometimes written as R838). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is R83.8 (Abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does R83.8 group to?

When other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 91, 92, 93, with relative weights from 0.7783 to 1.7050 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R83.8 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the other abnormal findings in cerebrospinal fluid is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

Can R83.8 be reported with a code from O28?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at block R83-R89, which applies to R83.8, lists "abnormal findings on antenatal screening of mother (O28.-)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).