ICD10BillableValid for clinical use
ICD-10 Code I63.421: Cerebral infarction due to embolism of right anterior cerebral artery
Reviewed by HealthAssure Clinical TeamUpdated 26 May 2026
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 embolism of a cerebral 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 right anterior cerebral artery 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 embolic disease in a cerebral artery.
- Coding workflows where the chart identifies embolism of middle, anterior, posterior, cerebellar, unspecified, or another cerebral artery as the mechanism for cerebral infarction.
Common management context
- Evaluation often includes neurologic examination, brain and 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 cerebral artery and clarifies laterality for right, left, bilateral, or unspecified involvement.
- 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 cerebral artery rather than thrombotic disease or another unspecified occlusive pattern.
- Specific artery detail such as middle, anterior, posterior, cerebellar, or other cerebral involvement can change the final code.
- Within the cerebral-artery branch, documentation that names middle, anterior, posterior, cerebellar, or another cerebral artery changes code specificity.
- 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 embolism of cerebral arteries is coded differently from infarction due to thrombosis or unspecified occlusion or stenosis of similar cerebral arteries.
Related codes to consider
I63.422Cerebral infarction due to embolism of left anterior cerebral 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.
I63.423Cerebral infarction due to embolism of bilateral anterior cerebral arteries
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.
I63.429Cerebral infarction due to embolism of unspecified anterior cerebral 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
category
I63.4Cerebral infarction due to embolism of cerebral arteries
category
I63.42Cerebral infarction due to embolism of anterior cerebral artery
currentI63.42
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
Related codes
Sibling codes
Coverage-related procedures and services
CPT 93325high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY COLOR FLOW VELOCITY MAPPING (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93320high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSED WAVE AND/OR CONTINUOUS WAVE WITH SPECTRAL DISPLAY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING); COMPLETE
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93321high
DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, PULSED WAVE AND/OR CONTINUOUS WAVE WITH SPECTRAL DISPLAY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING); FOLLOW-UP OR LIMITED STUDY (LIST SEPARATELY IN ADDITION TO CODES FOR ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC IMAGING)
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93880high
DUPLEX SCAN OF EXTRACRANIAL ARTERIES; COMPLETE BILATERAL STUDY
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93882high
DUPLEX SCAN OF EXTRACRANIAL ARTERIES; UNILATERAL OR LIMITED STUDY
Source: CMS coverage guidance
CPT 93318high
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, TRANSESOPHAGEAL (TEE) FOR MONITORING PURPOSES, INCLUDING PROBE PLACEMENT, REAL TIME 2-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE ACQUISITION AND INTERPRETATION LEADING TO ONGOING (CONTINUOUS) ASSESSMENT OF (DYNAMICALLY CHANGING) CARDIAC PUMPING FUNCTION AND TO THERAPEUTIC MEASURES ON AN IMMEDIATE TIME BASIS
Source: CMS coverage guidance
Coding guidelines
Common synonyms
Cerebral infarction due to embolism of right anterior cerebral artery
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.