Coding for mild calcified plaque of the left main (LM) and left anterior descending (LD) coronary arteries

Q.

Do you know what the appropriate diagnosis code is for a mild calcified plaque of the left main (LM) and left anterior descending (LD) coronary arteries?  I’m not sure if this would be I25.10, coronary artery disease; or I25.84, coronary atherosclerotic disease due to calcified coronary lesion. 

A.

Actually, it would be both. Look at the guidelines for I25.84. It states, “Code first coronary atherosclerosis.”  And at I25.10, the guidelines say to use an additional code to identify coronary atherosclerosis due to calcified coronary lesion.