ICD-10 Code I65 – Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I65 – Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries, not resulting in cerebral infarction
What it is
This code identifies narrowing or blockage of the precerebral arteries, such as the carotid or vertebral vessels, without evidence of a cerebral infarction. It describes vascular disease that has not yet caused a documented stroke.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Patients may have bruit, reduced arterial flow on imaging, or neurologic symptoms that resolve without infarction, but the record must show no cerebral infarction.
When to use this code
Use I65 when the provider documents occlusion or stenosis of a precerebral artery and specifically states that no cerebral infarction occurred. This may follow carotid duplex, CTA, MRA, or angiographic findings. Code the documented vessel and laterality when available, if your code set requires it.
Do not use for
Do not use this code if the record documents cerebral infarction, TIA only, or a different vascular territory. Check documentation when the note does not clearly distinguish stenosis from acute stroke.
Coding tip
Verify that the provider excludes infarction before assigning I65, and code the specific artery and side whenever the documentation supports it.