ICD10
ICD-10 Code I63.1: Cerebral infarction due to embolism of precerebral arteries
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026
What is this code?
ICD-10 entries help standardize how diagnoses are organized for coding, reporting, analytics, and documentation. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99).
đź“‹Clinical overview
This ICD-10 code is commonly used when documentation describes cerebral infarction attributed to embolism of a precerebral artery. The most accurate code depends on whether the record identifies the specific artery and any laterality detail.
When is it used?
- May be used when a clinician documents cerebral infarction due to embolism of precerebral arteries in a patient's medical record.
- May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
- This code may act more like a grouping or parent code, so a more specific child code may be used in final documentation when available.
What it does not mean
- A code alone does not explain severity, treatment plan, or outcome.
- A medical code should not be treated as a substitute for a doctor's diagnosis or advice.
- This entry may represent a broader category rather than the most specific billable code.
đź©şClinical context
When commonly used
- Stroke, neurology, inpatient, and utilization-review documentation where ischemic stroke is linked to embolic disease in a precerebral artery.
- Coding workflows where the chart identifies embolism of vertebral, basilar, carotid, unspecified, or another precerebral artery as the mechanism for cerebral infarction.
Common management context
- Evaluation often includes neurologic examination, vascular imaging review, acute-stroke assessment context, and follow-up of ischemic deficits or stroke-risk factors.
- Documentation usually becomes more specific when the chart names the exact precerebral artery and clarifies that the event is embolic rather than thrombotic or another occlusive pattern.
- Specialist context already linked on this page includes Cardiologist, General Physician, Neurologist, Stroke Specialist.
🔍Key distinctions
Important notes
- These ICD-10 codes describe ischemic stroke attributed to embolism of a precerebral artery rather than thrombotic disease or another unspecified occlusive pattern.
- Specific artery detail such as carotid, vertebral, basilar, or other precerebral involvement can change the final code.
- This parent page groups vessel-specific ischemic-stroke codes where documentation attributes cerebral infarction to embolism of precerebral arteries, so the final billable code usually depends on the named artery and any laterality detail.
- Documentation that attributes cerebral infarction to embolism of precerebral arteries is coded differently from infarction due to thrombosis or unspecified occlusion or stenosis of similar precerebral arteries.
Related codes to consider
I63.10Cerebral infarction due to embolism of unspecified precerebral artery
Related cerebral-infarction ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies embolism versus thrombosis, the exact artery, laterality, or another occlusive mechanism.
I63.12Cerebral infarction due to embolism of basilar artery
Related cerebral-infarction ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies embolism versus thrombosis, the exact artery, laterality, or another occlusive mechanism.
I63.19Cerebral infarction due to embolism of other precerebral artery
Related cerebral-infarction ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies embolism versus thrombosis, the exact artery, laterality, or another occlusive mechanism.
Code hierarchy
chapter
9Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
block
I60-I69Cerebrovascular diseases
category
I63Cerebral infarction
currentI63
Where you may see this code
You may see this entry in coding references, medical records, or claims workflows when a broader diagnosis category is being reviewed before a more specific code is chosen.
Related specialists
CardiologistGeneral PhysicianNeurologistStroke Specialist
Related codes
Sibling codes
I63.0Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of precerebral arteriesI63.2Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of precerebral arteriesI63.3Cerebral infarction due to thrombosis of cerebral arteriesI63.4Cerebral infarction due to embolism of cerebral arteriesI63.5Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of cerebral arteriesI63.6Cerebral infarction due to cerebral venous thrombosis, nonpyogenicbillableI63.8Other cerebral infarctionI63.9Cerebral infarction, unspecifiedbillable
Mapped diagnoses and classifications
SNOMED_CT 195186005high
Cerebral infarction due to embolism of precerebral arteries
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 152148641000119104high
Cerebrovascular accident due to embolism of bilateral carotid arteries
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 732330391000119107high
Cerebrovascular accident due to embolism of bilateral vertebral arteries
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 859422751000119101high
Cerebrovascular accident due to embolism of left carotid artery
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 517253051000119105high
Cerebrovascular accident due to embolism of left vertebral artery
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
SNOMED_CT 384430101000119103high
Cerebrovascular accident due to embolism of right carotid artery
Source: SNOMED International ICD-10 map
Coding guidelines
Compatibility
Legacy code aligns to an official FY 2026 category. Frontend should resolve to the official category page and surface the billable child codes.
Legacy codes
I63.1
Replacement codes
I63.10 — Cerebral infarction due to embolism of unspecified precerebral arteryI63.12 — Cerebral infarction due to embolism of basilar arteryI63.19 — Cerebral infarction due to embolism of other precerebral artery
Common synonyms
Cerebral infarction due to embolism of precerebral arteries
Frequently asked questions
About this content
This page is prepared by HealthAssure's clinical team using official coding standards from ICD-10. AI tools assist with drafting explanations, which are then reviewed and verified by healthcare professionals for accuracy. This content is for informational purposes and does not replace professional medical advice. Meet our team.