ICD-10 Code I60.10 – Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from unspecified middle cerebral artery (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I60.10 – Nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage from unspecified middle cerebral artery
What it is
This code identifies a nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage arising from the middle cerebral artery, when the side is not specified. Use it for bleeding into the subarachnoid space that is not due to injury.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include sudden severe headache, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, and altered mental status. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation and imaging or neurologic evaluation confirming subarachnoid hemorrhage.
When to use this code
Use I60.10 when the provider documents a nontraumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage linked to the middle cerebral artery and does not specify right or left. This may appear in acute stroke, aneurysmal bleed, or neurosurgical notes. Code only when the anatomic source and nontraumatic cause are documented.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage or for hemorrhage from a different cerebral artery. If the documentation names a specific side, use the more specific code instead.
Coding tip
Check the report for laterality and traumatic versus nontraumatic cause before assigning I60.10.