ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Renal Colic: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group N23 includes diagnoses for renal colic where the exact cause or laterality is not specified, commonly used when urinary tract obstruction or stone passage is suspected but not definitively documented. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document acute presentations of flank or abdominal pain related to the urinary tract, capturing clinical complexity and the need for urgent evaluation. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM N23 group supports proper claim adjudication and complete clinical documentation for services provided.

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ICD-10-CM N23: Unspecified Renal Colic Overview

This group represents episodes of acute flank pain caused by obstruction in the urinary tract when a more specific cause has not been identified. It targets the genitourinary system, particularly conditions like urolithiasis that produce renal colic. Accurate coding matters for proper clinical records and supports appropriate reimbursement by reflecting the acute nature of the presentation.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when a patient presents with acute flank or renal-type pain attributed to renal colic but diagnostic confirmation or specification is not available. These codes apply for initial encounters and documentation when laterality or definitive etiology has not been established.

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
N23	Unspecified renal colic

DRG Codes

2 rows

DRG Code	Description
693	Urinary Stones with MCC
694	Urinary Stones without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 35-year-old male presents to the emergency department with sudden onset severe, colicky right flank pain radiating to the groin, associated with nausea and hematuria on initial urinalysis. Imaging is inconclusive for a visible calculus but clinical exam and history strongly suggest acute renal colic; a nonspecific renal colic diagnosis is assigned when a definitive stone is not identified. Typical codes: N23
A 58-year-old female with a history of intermittent flank discomfort reports a new episode of worsening intermittent sharp left-sided flank pain that resolves spontaneously within hours; she seeks evaluation in an urgent care clinic because symptoms recur intermittently without documented stone passage. Because the presentation is consistent with renal colic but no imaging or stone documentation is available at the visit, an unspecified renal colic diagnosis is used. Typical codes: N23
A 72-year-old hospitalized patient with acute urinary tract symptoms develops sudden onset severe flank pain while being treated for sepsis; bedside ultrasound does not show a clear obstructing stone and contrast imaging is deferred due to renal function. When clinical signs indicate renal colic without confirmed stone obstruction, the unspecified renal colic code is assigned as a comorbid acute event complicating the inpatient course. Typical codes: N23

Related Codes

N20-CALCULUS-OF-KIDNEY-AND-URETER

ICD-10-CM Code For Calculus Of Kidney And Ureter: Group Overview

N21-CALCULUS-OF-LOWER-URINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Calculus Of Lower Urinary Tract: Group Overview

N22-CALCULUS-OF-URINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Calculus Of Urinary Tract In Diseases Classified Elsewhere: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

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When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

1 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
N23	Unspecified renal colic

DRG Codes

2 rows

DRG Code	Description
693	Urinary Stones with MCC
694	Urinary Stones without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

A 35-year-old male presents to the emergency department with sudden onset severe, colicky right flank pain radiating to the groin, associated with nausea and hematuria on initial urinalysis. Imaging is inconclusive for a visible calculus but clinical exam and history strongly suggest acute renal colic; a nonspecific renal colic diagnosis is assigned when a definitive stone is not identified. Typical codes: N23
A 58-year-old female with a history of intermittent flank discomfort reports a new episode of worsening intermittent sharp left-sided flank pain that resolves spontaneously within hours; she seeks evaluation in an urgent care clinic because symptoms recur intermittently without documented stone passage. Because the presentation is consistent with renal colic but no imaging or stone documentation is available at the visit, an unspecified renal colic diagnosis is used. Typical codes: N23
A 72-year-old hospitalized patient with acute urinary tract symptoms develops sudden onset severe flank pain while being treated for sepsis; bedside ultrasound does not show a clear obstructing stone and contrast imaging is deferred due to renal function. When clinical signs indicate renal colic without confirmed stone obstruction, the unspecified renal colic code is assigned as a comorbid acute event complicating the inpatient course. Typical codes: N23

Related Codes

N20-CALCULUS-OF-KIDNEY-AND-URETER

ICD-10-CM Code For Calculus Of Kidney And Ureter: Group Overview

N21-CALCULUS-OF-LOWER-URINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Calculus Of Lower Urinary Tract: Group Overview

N22-CALCULUS-OF-URINARY-TRACT

ICD-10-CM Code For Calculus Of Urinary Tract In Diseases Classified Elsewhere: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Renal Colic: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM N23: Unspecified Renal Colic Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Unspecified Renal Colic: Group Overview

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ICD-10-CM N23: Unspecified Renal Colic Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

When should a coder use `N23` for renal colic?

What clinical presentations does the `N23` group represent?

How does accurate use of `N23` affect documentation and billing?

Which DRGs are related to the `N23` diagnosis group?

Does the `N23` code specify laterality or exact cause of renal colic?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

When should a coder use `N23` for renal colic?

What clinical presentations does the `N23` group represent?

How does accurate use of `N23` affect documentation and billing?

Which DRGs are related to the `N23` diagnosis group?

Does the `N23` code specify laterality or exact cause of renal colic?

References