Inflammatory Polyps in Ulcerative Colitis
Question:
Patient had a colonoscopy with biopsy of a polyp. The path came back as inflammatory polyp. Can ICD-10 K51.40 be used for this? I am being told it cannot unless the patient has ulcerative colitis since the code falls under K51.
Answer:
Thank you for your question. No you cannot use K51.40 (inflammatory polyps in ulcerative colitis, unspecified) for an inflammatory polyp unless the patient has documented ulcerative colitis. Every code under K51.- belongs to the ICD‑10‑CM chapter for Ulcerative Colitis. Ulcerative colitis must be documented to report any code in category K51.
Correct coding for an inflammatory polyp when ulcerative colitis is NOT present:
Benign neoplasm of colon (if clinically considered neoplastic). D12.6 — Benign neoplasm of colon, unspecified-or a more specific code based on location (e.g., D12.2 for ascending colon). This is commonly used when a polyp is not malignant and does not fall into a more specific category.
Polyp of colon-K63.5 (if pathology does not support neoplasm). This is often appropriate when pathology identifies a non‑neoplastic, inflammatory polyp. Most inflammatory polyps—particularly those unrelated to ulcerative colitis—are coded to K63.5 (Polyp of colon).
*This response is based on the best information available as of 04/02/26.
