ICD-10 Code K81.1 – Chronic cholecystitis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K81.1 – Chronic cholecystitis
What it is
K81.1 identifies chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, usually from repeated irritation or gallstones. Use it when the record specifically documents chronic cholecystitis.
Clinical signs
Patients may have recurrent right upper quadrant pain, nausea, or food-related discomfort. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation and imaging or pathology reports when available.
When to use this code
Use K81.1 when the provider documents chronic cholecystitis as the diagnosis, including cases confirmed by imaging, surgery, or pathology. It also fits follow-up notes that continue to identify chronic gallbladder inflammation. If the note only says gallstones without cholecystitis, do not assign this code.
Do not use for
Do not use K81.1 for acute cholecystitis, biliary colic, or unspecified gallbladder pain. Check documentation if the record does not clearly distinguish chronic from acute disease.
Coding tip
Code chronic cholecystitis only when the provider explicitly documents it; otherwise, query or use the more specific documented gallbladder diagnosis.