ICD-10 provides the guidance on when to use sign and symptom symbols: "While specific diagnostic symbols should be reported when it is supported by adequate available documentation, as well as have clinical knowledge regarding the patient's condition, in some cases non-specific signs/symptoms or symbols are the best option to reflect the Healthcare sector. If a definitive diagnosis has not been made at the end of a stroke, they should report it as ‘signs and/or symptom codes’ rather than declaring it as a definitive diagnosis.
If your diagnosis is described by both the ICD-9 and constipation ICD-10 code as "probable" or any other term which means, undiagnosed, it should not be reported as a suspicious condition code. However, you can report symptoms, signs, or test result codes. (For hospitalized patients, facilities may report documented suspicious conditions at discharge.)
