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S20.471A vs S20.472A

S20.471A (Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax, initial encounter) compared with S20.472A (Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S20.471A and S20.472A code the same condition on opposite sides. MedCoder-derived

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S20.471A
Right
Other superficial bite of right back wall of thorax, initial encounter
S20.472A
Left
Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, 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. S20.471A and S20.472A 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

S20.471AOther superficial bite of right back wall of thorax, initial encounterS20.472AOther superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, 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 right back wall of thorax, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S20.471A).Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S20.472A).
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