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A52.11 ICD-10-CM Code: Tabes dorsalis

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
2 inclusion terms · 2 Excludes1 · 1 Excludes2

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 056 — DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 057 — DEGENERATIVE NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 01)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for A52.11 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on A52.11 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Locomotor ataxia (progressive)
  • Tabetic neurosyphilis

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from A50-A64

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Source: inherited from A50-A64

Coder workflow for A52.11

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code A52.11

  1. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with A52.11. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support a condition named in A52.11’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewN34.1, M02.3

Consider A52.11. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting A52.11(2 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with A52.11: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareN34.1, M02.3

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

  • Excludes2 — not part of A52.11(1 note)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in A52.11. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareB20

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: Both the condition A52.11 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewN34.1, M02.3

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Code Overview

Tabes dorsalis is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (A52.11).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (27)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name A52.11 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 6 Excludes1 notes across 3 chapters: G32.0 — Subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord in diseases classified elsewhere, G98.0 — Neurogenic arthritis, not elsewhere classified, G99.8 — Other specified disorders of nervous system in diseases classified elsewhere (via A52.1.-), M49 — Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere, M90 — Osteopathies in diseases classified elsewhere, R26 — Abnormalities of gait and mobility.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 7 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: A65 — Nonvenereal syphilis (via A52.-), A65-A69 — Other spirochetal diseases (A65-A69) (via A52.-), A66 — Yaws (via A52.-), A67 — Pinta [carate] (via A52.-), A68 — Relapsing fevers (via A52.-), A69 — Other spirochetal infections (via A52.-), N34 — Urethritis and urethral syndrome (via A52.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 96 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 056 (MDC 01), DRG 057 (MDC 01).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):INF010 — Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis) (default); NVS003 — Other specified CNS infection and poliomyelitis.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

A51.9 — Early syphilis, unspecified, A52.00 — Cardiovascular syphilis, unspecified, A52.01 — Syphilitic aneurysm of aorta, A52.02 — Syphilitic aortitis, A52.03 — Syphilitic endocarditis, A52.04 — Syphilitic cerebral arteritis, A52.05 — Other cerebrovascular syphilis, A52.06 — Other syphilitic heart involvement, A52.09 — Other cardiovascular syphilis, A52.10 — Symptomatic neurosyphilis, unspecified, A52.12 — Other cerebrospinal syphilis, A52.13 — Late syphilitic meningitis, A52.14 — Late syphilitic encephalitis, A52.15 — Late syphilitic neuropathy, A52.16 — Charcôt's arthropathy (tabetic), A52.17 — General paresis, A52.19 — Other symptomatic neurosyphilis, A52.2 — Asymptomatic neurosyphilis, A52.3 — Neurosyphilis, unspecified, A52.71 — Late syphilitic oculopathy, +75 more

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Sexually transmitted infections (excluding HIV and hepatitis), Other specified CNS infection and poliomyelitis).

A51.9 — Early syphilis, unspecified, A52.00 — Cardiovascular syphilis, unspecified, A52.01 — Syphilitic aneurysm of aorta, A52.02 — Syphilitic aortitis, A52.03 — Syphilitic endocarditis, A52.04 — Syphilitic cerebral arteritis, A52.05 — Other cerebrovascular syphilis, A52.06 — Other syphilitic heart involvement, A52.09 — Other cardiovascular syphilis, A52.10 — Symptomatic neurosyphilis, unspecified, A52.12 — Other cerebrospinal syphilis, A52.13 — Late syphilitic meningitis, A52.14 — Late syphilitic encephalitis, A52.15 — Late syphilitic neuropathy, A52.16 — Charcôt's arthropathy (tabetic), A52.17 — General paresis, A52.19 — Other symptomatic neurosyphilis, A52.2 — Asymptomatic neurosyphilis, A52.3 — Neurosyphilis, unspecified, A52.71 — Late syphilitic oculopathy, +163 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Syphilis, syphilitic”, “Radiculopathy”, “Ataxia, ataxy, ataxic”, …; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

A51.32 — Syphilitic alopecia (alopecia), A51.39 — Other secondary syphilis of skin (lip), A51.41 — Secondary syphilitic meningitis (meningitis, acute), A51.43 — Secondary syphilitic oculopathy (uveitis), A51.44 — Secondary syphilitic nephritis (nephrotic syndrome), A51.45 — Secondary syphilitic hepatitis (secondary, liver), A51.46 — Secondary syphilitic osteopathy (secondary, bone), A51.49 — Other secondary syphilitic conditions (secondary), A51.5 — Early syphilis, latent (early, latent), A51.9 — Early syphilis, unspecified (early), A53.0 — Latent syphilis, unspecified as early or late (latent), A53.9 — Syphilis, unspecified, A65 — Nonvenereal syphilis (endemic), B02.29 — Other postherpetic nervous system involvement (postherpetic), D49.9 — Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of unspecified site (cerebellar, in, neoplastic disease), D57.00 — Hb-SS disease with crisis, unspecified (sickle-cell), D57.01 — Hb-SS disease with acute chest syndrome (sickle-cell, with, acute chest syndrome), D57.02 — Hb-SS disease with splenic sequestration (sickle-cell, with, splenic sequestration), D57.03 — Hb-SS disease with cerebral vascular involvement (sickle-cell, with, cerebral vascular involvement), D57.09 — Hb-SS disease with crisis with other specified complication (sickle-cell, with, complication specified NEC), +313 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

HIV Screening Test

Contextual Map

Every relationship of A52.11 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run A52.11 with these 13 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

  • A65 — Nonvenereal syphilis[Excludes2](via A52.-): “syphilis (A50-A53)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • A65-A69 — Other spirochetal diseases (A65-A69)[Excludes2](via A52.-): “syphilis (A50-A53)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • A66 — Yaws[Excludes2](via A52.-): “syphilis (A50-A53)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • A67 — Pinta [carate][Excludes2](via A52.-): “syphilis (A50-A53)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • A68 — Relapsing fevers[Excludes2](via A52.-): “syphilis (A50-A53)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • A69 — Other spirochetal infections[Excludes2](via A52.-): “syphilis (A50-A53)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
  • N34 — Urethritis and urethral syndrome[Excludes2](via A52.-): “urethritis in diseases with a predominantly sexual mode of transmission (A50-A64)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 01 — Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 8,892 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries (27)

  • Ataxia, ataxy, ataxic, locomotor (progressive) (syphilitic) (partial) (spastic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Ataxia, ataxy, ataxic, spinal, progressive (syphilitic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Atrophy, atrophic (of), bone NEC (senile), due to, tabes dorsalis (neurogenic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Atrophy, atrophic (of), neurogenic, bone, tabetic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Crisis, Pel's (tabetic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Crisis, tabetic[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Duchenne's, locomotor ataxia (syphilitic)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Neurosyphilis (arrested) (early) (gumma) (late) (latent) (recurrent) (relapse), tabes, tabetic (dorsalis)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • and 19 more

Nearest codes (33)

Change history

  • FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Tabes dorsalis

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to A52.11 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the A52 family