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S20.171A vs S20.172A

S20.171A (Other superficial bite of breast, right breast, initial encounter) compared with S20.172A (Other superficial bite of breast, left breast, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S20.171A and S20.172A code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S20.171A
Right
Other superficial bite of breast, right breast, initial encounter
S20.172A
Left
Other superficial bite of breast, left breast, initial encounter

Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.

These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)

Can these codes be reported together?

Same condition, opposite side. S20.171A and S20.172A name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.

Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.

Side by side

S20.171AOther superficial bite of breast, right breast, initial encounterS20.172AOther superficial bite of breast, left breast, initial encounter
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causesS00-T88 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
DefinitionOther superficial bite of breast, right breast, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S20.171A).Other superficial bite of breast, left breast, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S20.172A).
7th characterThe appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S20The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from category S20
Includes
injuries of breast
injuries of chest (wall)
injuries of interscapular area
injuries of breast
injuries of chest (wall)
injuries of interscapular area

Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources