neuritis

DEFINITION of neuritis

Neuritis is a general term describing inflammation of one or more nerves, which can affect the peripheral nervous system, cranial nerves, or specific nerve plexuses. The condition disrupts normal nerve conduction, leading to various neurological symptoms depending on the nerve(s) involved. Types:

• Mononeuritis: Inflammation of a single nerve (e.g., optic neuritis, ulnar neuritis).
• Polyneuritis/Multiple Mononeuritis: Inflammation of multiple individual nerves in different areas.
• Polyneuropathy: Diffuse, symmetrical inflammation affecting many nerves simultaneously (often systemic in origin).
• Cranial Neuritis: Inflammation of cranial nerves (e.g., optic, vestibular, facial).
• Etiology: Causes include infection (viral, bacterial), autoimmune disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis), trauma, compression, toxins, metabolic disorders (diabetes), nutritional deficiencies (B vitamins), and idiopathic causes.
• Symptoms: Pain (burning, shooting, or stabbing), paresthesia (tingling/numbness), muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, and in severe cases, muscle atrophy or paralysis.
• Treatment: Depends on underlying cause; may include anti-inflammatory medications, immunosuppressants, antivirals/antibiotics, pain management, and physical therapy.

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ETYMOLOGY of neuritis

greek Derived from two Greek roots:

• neur-: From Greek neuron, meaning “nerve.”
• -itis: Greek suffix meaning “inflammation.”
• Literally translates to “inflammation of the nerve.”
• First used in medical literature in the mid-19th century (c. 1850s) to describe inflammatory nerve conditions.

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Related Terms

• Neuropathy: General term for nerve damage or dysfunction (may or may not be inflammatory).
• Neuralgia: Pain along the course of a nerve without necessarily implying inflammation.
• Radiculitis: Inflammation of a nerve root (where the nerve exits the spine).
• Plexitis: Inflammation of a nerve plexus (e.g., brachial plexitis).
• Encephalitis: Inflammation of the brain tissue.
• Myelitis: Inflammation of the spinal cord.
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Autoimmune polyneuritis causing rapid-onset muscle weakness.
• Optic Neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve (common in multiple sclerosis).
• Vestibular Neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve (causes vertigo).
• Brachial Neuritis: Inflammation of nerves in the brachial plexus (shoulder/arm).
• Diabetic Neuropathy: Nerve damage from diabetes (often has inflammatory component).
• demyelination: Loss of the myelin sheath surrounding nerves; often occurs in inflammatory neuritis.

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ICD-10-CM Codes

Note: Neuritis codes vary significantly based on the specific nerve(s) affected, laterality, and underlying cause. Below are the most common specific neuritis codes.

Cranial Nerve Neuritis

• H46.001: Optic neuritis, right eye
• H46.002: Optic neuritis, left eye
• H46.003: Optic neuritis, bilateral
• H46.009: Optic neuritis, unspecified eye
• H46.011: Optic papillitis, right eye
• H46.012: Optic papillitis, left eye
• H46.013: Optic papillitis, bilateral
• H46.019: Optic papillitis, unspecified eye
• H46.021: Retrobulbar neuritis (acute), right eye
• H46.022: Retrobulbar neuritis (acute), left eye
• H46.023: Retrobulbar neuritis (acute), bilateral
• H46.029: Retrobulbar neuritis (acute), unspecified eye
• H81.21: Vestibular neuronitis, right ear
• H81.22: Vestibular neuronitis, left ear
• H81.23: Vestibular neuronitis, bilateral
• H81.29: Vestibular neuronitis, unspecified ear

Peripheral Nerve Neuritis (G60-G64)

• G60.0: Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy
• G60.1: Refsum’s disease
• G60.2: Neuropathy in association with hereditary ataxia
• G60.3: Idiopathic progressive neuropathy
• G60.8: Other hereditary and idiopathic neuropathy
• G60.9: Hereditary and idiopathic neuropathy, unspecified
• G61.0: Guillain-Barré syndrome
• G61.1: Serum neuropathy
• G61.81: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuritis (CIDP)
• G61.89: Other inflammatory polyneuropathies
• G61.9: Inflammatory polyneuropathy, unspecified

Specific Nerve Neuritis (Mononeuritis)

• G50.0: Trigeminal neuralgia (can be neuritis-related)
• G51.0: Bell’s palsy (facial neuritis)
• G51.8: Other disorders of facial nerve
• G51.9: Facial nerve disorder, unspecified
• G52.0: Disorders of olfactory nerve
• G52.1: Disorders of glossopharyngeal nerve
• G52.2: Disorders of vagus nerve
• G52.3: Disorders of hypoglossal nerve
• G52.8: Disorders of other specified cranial nerves
• G52.9: Cranial nerve disorder, unspecified

Upper Limb Nerve Neuritis

• G54.0: Brachial plexus disorders
• G54.1: Lumbosacral plexus disorders
• G55.0: Nerve root and plexus compressions in neoplastic disease
• G55.1: Nerve root and plexus compressions in intervertebral disc disorders
• G56.00: Carpal tunnel syndrome, unspecified upper limb
• G56.01: Carpal tunnel syndrome, right upper limb
• G56.02: Carpal tunnel syndrome, left upper limb
• G56.03: Carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral upper limbs
• G56.10: Other lesions of median nerve, unspecified upper limb
• G56.11: … right upper limb
• G56.12: … left upper limb
• G56.13: … bilateral upper limbs
• G56.20: Lesion of ulnar nerve, unspecified upper limb
• G56.21: … right upper limb
• G56.22: … left upper limb
• G56.23: … bilateral upper limbs
• G56.30: Lesion of radial nerve, unspecified upper limb
• G56.31: … right upper limb
• G56.32: … left upper limb
• G56.33: … bilateral upper limbs

Lower Limb Nerve Neuritis

• G57.00: Lesion of sciatic nerve, unspecified lower limb
• G57.01: … right lower limb
• G57.02: … left lower limb
• G57.03: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.10: Meralgia paresthetica, unspecified lower limb
• G57.11: … right lower limb
• G57.12: … left lower limb
• G57.13: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.20: Lesion of femoral nerve, unspecified lower limb
• G57.21: … right lower limb
• G57.22: … left lower limb
• G57.23: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.30: Lesion of lateral popliteal nerve, unspecified lower limb
• G57.31: … right lower limb
• G57.32: … left lower limb
• G57.33: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.40: Lesion of medial popliteal nerve, unspecified lower limb
• G57.41: … right lower limb
• G57.42: … left lower limb
• G57.43: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.50: Tarsal tunnel syndrome, unspecified lower limb
• G57.51: … right lower limb
• G57.52: … left lower limb
• G57.53: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.60: Lesion of plantar nerve, unspecified lower limb
• G57.61: … right lower limb
• G57.62: … left lower limb
• G57.63: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.80: Other mononeuropathies of lower limb, unspecified lower limb
• G57.81: … right lower limb
• G57.82: … left lower limb
• G57.83: … bilateral lower limbs
• G57.90: Mononeuropathy of lower limb, unspecified
• G57.91: … right lower limb
• G57.92: … left lower limb
• G57.93: … bilateral lower limbs

Polyneuropathy Codes

• G62.0: Drug-induced polyneuropathy
• G62.1: Alcoholic polyneuropathy
• G62.2: Polyneuropathy due to other toxic agents
• G62.81: Critical illness polyneuropathy
• G62.89: Other specified polyneuropathies
• G62.9: Polyneuropathy, unspecified
• G63.0: Polyneuropathy in infectious and parasitic diseases
• G63.1: Polyneuropathy in neoplastic disease
• G63.2: Diabetic polyneuropathy (use E08-E13 with .42)
• G63.3: Polyneuropathy in other endocrine and metabolic diseases
• G63.4: Polyneuropathy in nutritional deficiency
• G63.5: Polyneuropathy in systemic connective tissue disorders
• G63.6: Polyneuropathy in other musculoskeletal disorders
• G63.8: Polyneuropathy in other diseases classified elsewhere

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CPT Codes

CPT codes depend on diagnostic testing, treatment procedures, or nerve blocks performed.

Diagnostic Testing (Nerve Conduction/EMG)

• 95905: Motor nerve conduction studies; 1-2 studies
• 95906: … 3-4 studies
• 95907: … 5-6 studies
• 95908: … 7-8 studies
• 95909: … 9-10 studies
• 95910: … 11-12 studies
• 95911: … 13 or more studies
• 95912: Sensory nerve conduction studies; 1-2 studies
• 95913: … 3-4 studies
• 95914: … 5-6 studies
• 95915: … 7-8 studies
• 95916: … 9-10 studies
• 95917: … 11-12 studies
• 95918: … 13 or more studies
• 95860: Needle electromyography (EMG); 1 extremity
• 95861: … 2 extremities
• 95863: … 3 extremities
• 95864: … 4 extremities
• 95865: … paraspinal muscles
• 95866: … thoracic paraspinal muscles
• 95867: … cranial nerve supplied muscles, unilateral
• 95868: … cranial nerve supplied muscles, bilateral
• 95869: … laryngeal muscles
• 95870: Needle electromyography; limited study
• 95872: … paraspinal muscles (separate procedure)
• 95873: … electrical stimulation for guidance

Nerve Blocks/Injections (Treatment)

• 64400: Injection, anesthetic agent; trigeminal nerve, any division or branch
• 64402: … facial nerve
• 64405: … occipital nerve
• 64408: … supraorbital nerve
• 64412: … supraclavicular nerve
• 64415: … axillary nerve
• 64416: … ulnar nerve at elbow
• 64417: … median nerve at wrist
• 64418: … radial nerve at wrist
• 64420: … digital nerve(s), one digit
• 64421: … digital nerve(s), multiple digits
• 64423: … plantar common digital nerve(s)
• 64425: … tibial nerve, ankle
• 64430: … sciatic nerve
• 64431: … femoral nerve
• 64435: … lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
• 64436: … obturator nerve
• 64442: … intercostal nerve(s)
• 64445: … intercostal nerve(s), paravertebral block
• 64446: … intercostal nerve(s), paravertebral block, continuous infusion
• 64447: … transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block
• 64448: … erector spinae plane block
• 64449: … serratus anterior plane block
• 64450: … lumbar/sacral facet joint nerve block
• 64451: … cervical/thoracic facet joint nerve block
• 64452: … paravertebral block, thoracic
• 64454: … paravertebral block, lumbar
• 64461: … pudendal nerve
• 64462: … ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve
• 64463: … genitofemoral nerve
• 64466: … sacroiliac joint injection
• 64467: … sacroiliac joint injection with imaging
• 64468: … greater occipital nerve block
• 64470: … lesser occipital nerve block
• 64472: … third occipital nerve block
• 64475: … epidural injection, cervical/thoracic
• 64476: … epidural injection, lumbar/sacral
• 64477: … epidural injection with imaging
• 64479: … selective nerve root block, cervical/thoracic
• 64480: … selective nerve root block, lumbar/sacral
• 64483: … continuous epidural infusion
• 64484: … continuous peripheral nerve infusion
• 64487: … ultrasound guidance for nerve block
• 64488: … fluoroscopic guidance for nerve block
• 64489: … CT guidance for nerve block

Nerve Decompression/Repair

• 64702: Neuroplasty and/or transposition; digital nerve
• 64704: … median nerve at carpal tunnel
• 64708: … ulnar nerve at elbow
• 64712: … other peripheral nerve
• 64713: … sciatic nerve
• 64714: … tibial nerve
• 64716: … peroneal nerve
• 64718: … phrenic nerve
• 64719: … vagus nerve
• 64721: … sympathetic nerve
• 64722: … excision of neuroma
• 64727: … implantation of nerve stimulator electrodes
• 64732: … suture of nerve, requiring extensive mobilization
• 64734: … suture of nerve with nerve graft
• 64736: … suture of nerve with allograft
• 64737: … suture of nerve with conduit
• 64738: … suture of nerve, digital, one digit
• 64739: … suture of nerve, digital, multiple digits
• 64746: … neurolysis, ulnar nerve at elbow
• 64752: … neurolysis, median nerve at carpal tunnel
• 64756: … neurolysis, other peripheral nerve
• 64758: … neurolysis, sciatic nerve
• 64759: … neurolysis, tibial nerve
• 64760: … neurolysis, peroneal nerve

Nerve Biopsy

• 64795: Biopsy of nerve, not requiring microsurgery
• 64796: Biopsy of nerve, requiring microsurgery

Important Coding Notes:

• Specificity: Neuritis codes require documentation of the specific nerve(s) affected and laterality (right, left, bilateral).
• Underlying Cause: If neuritis is due to an underlying condition (e.g., diabetes, infection), code the underlying condition first, then the neuritis code.
• EMG/NCS: Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) are often billed together for comprehensive neuromuscular evaluation.
• Imaging Guidance: Nerve blocks with imaging guidance (ultrasound, fluoroscopy, CT) require additional codes (64487-64489).
• Bilateral Procedures: Use modifier -50 for bilateral procedures when applicable, or use specific bilateral codes where available.
• Multiple Nerves: When multiple nerves are injected/blocked, each nerve may be billed separately with appropriate modifiers.

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DERIVATIONS of neuritis

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Query functionality

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Med roots Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms