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S20.472A vs S20.479A

S20.472A (Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter) compared with S20.479A (Other superficial bite of unspecified back wall of thorax, initial encounter), from the official CMS tabular data. S20.472A and S20.479A code the same condition on opposite sides.

Relationship

Review

Laterality relationship

S20.472A
Left
Other superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter
S20.479A
Unspecified
Other superficial bite of unspecified 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. S20.472A and S20.479A 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

S20.472AOther superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounterS20.479AOther superficial bite of unspecified back wall of thorax, initial encounter
Billing statusBillableBillable
ClassificationS00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)S00-T88 — Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes (S00-T88)
DefinitionOther superficial bite of left back wall of thorax, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S20.472A).Other superficial bite of unspecified back wall of thorax, initial encounter is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (S20.479A).
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