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ICD-10 Code I63.233: Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of bilateral carotid arteries

I63.233 is a billable ICD-10 diagnosis code used to classify Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of bilateral carotid arteries in medical records and claims. You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records. ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. This code sits within the broader ICD-10 area for Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99).

What is this code?

ICD-10 codes are diagnosis classification codes used in healthcare records, reporting, coding workflows, and billing support. 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 unspecified occlusion or stenosis of a precerebral artery. The most accurate code depends on whether the record later clarifies the exact artery or a more specific thrombotic versus embolic mechanism.

When is it used?

  • May be used when a clinician documents cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of bilateral carotid arteries in a patient's medical record.
  • May appear in hospital records, claims, referrals, and clinical documentation.
  • This code can be used as a clinically usable diagnosis entry in standardized coding workflows.

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.

đź©şClinical context

When commonly used
  • Stroke, neurology, inpatient, and utilization-review documentation where ischemic stroke is linked to precerebral arterial occlusion but the record does not clearly distinguish thrombosis from embolism.
  • Coding workflows where the chart identifies vertebral, basilar, carotid, unspecified, or another precerebral artery but preserves broader occlusion or stenosis language.
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 clarifies whether the occlusive event is thrombotic versus embolic and names the exact artery involved.
  • 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 a broader unspecified occlusion or stenosis pattern in a precerebral artery rather than clearly documented thrombosis or embolism.
  • Specific artery detail such as carotid, vertebral, basilar, or other precerebral involvement can change the final code.
  • Laterality matters here because right-sided, left-sided, bilateral, and unspecified-artery involvement are coded separately when the affected vessel is documented more precisely.
  • Documentation that attributes cerebral infarction to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of precerebral arteries is coded differently from infarction due to thrombosis or embolism of similar precerebral arteries.
Related codes to consider
I63.231Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of right carotid arteries
Related cerebral-infarction ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies thrombosis versus embolism, the exact artery, laterality, or another occlusive mechanism.
I63.232Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of left carotid arteries
Related cerebral-infarction ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies thrombosis versus embolism, the exact artery, laterality, or another occlusive mechanism.
I63.239Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of unspecified carotid artery
Related cerebral-infarction ICD-10 code; documentation often becomes more specific when the chart identifies thrombosis versus embolism, 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
category
I63.2Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of precerebral arteries
category
I63.23Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of carotid arteries
currentI63.23

Where you may see this code

You may see this code in hospital records, discharge summaries, insurance claims, encounter documentation, referrals, or other healthcare billing and coding records.

Related specialists

CardiologistGeneral PhysicianNeurologistStroke Specialist

Coding guidelines

Common synonyms

Cerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of bilateral carotid arteriesCerebral infarction due to occlusion or stenosis of bilateral carotid arteries

Frequently asked questions

Code details

CodeI63.233
SystemICD10
Display nameCerebral infarction due to unspecified occlusion or stenosis of bilateral carotid arteries
ChapterDiseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
BlockCerebrovascular diseases

Flags

BillableYes
Valid clinical useYes

Source

SourceICD-10
Version2026-annual
Releaseannual
Year2026

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.