I88.0 vs R59
I88.0 (Nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis) compared with R59 (Enlarged lymph nodes), from the official CMS tabular data. Do not report these codes together: the official tabular list marks them Excludes1.
Can these codes be reported together?
No — do not report together. I88.0 carries an Excludes1 note covering R59: “enlarged lymph nodes NOS (R59.-)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
No — do not report together. R59 carries an Excludes1 note covering I88.0: “mesenteric (acute) (chronic) lymphadenitis (I88.0)”
Sole exception: when the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).
Side by side
| I88.0Nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis | R59Enlarged lymph nodes | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Non-billable header |
| Classification | I00-I99 — Diseases of the Circulatory System (I00-I99) | R00-R99 — Symptoms, Signs and Abnormal Clinical and Laboratory Findings, Not Elsewhere Classified (R00-R99) |
| Definition | Nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (I88.0). | Enlarged lymph nodes is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (R59). |
| Includes | Mesenteric lymphadenitis (acute)(chronic) | swollen glands |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources