Calcific tendinitis of the right shoulder — calcium hydroxyapatite deposits within the rotator cuff tendons of the right shoulder, causing pain, stiffness, and functional limitation.
Verified May 8, 2026 · 4 sources ↓
- Status
- Billable
- Chapter
- 13
- Related CPT
- 10
- Region
- Shoulder
Documentation tips
What should appear in the chart to support M75.31.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in 4 cited references ↓
- Explicitly document 'right shoulder' — laterality is required to support M75.31 over the unspecified M75.30.
- Record imaging findings that confirm calcium deposits: radiograph view (AP, outlet, or Zanca), size/location of calcific density, and whether the deposit appears in the reabsorptive (fluffy) or formative (dense) phase.
- Note which tendon is involved (supraspinatus is most common) and any associated findings such as subacromial bursitis or rotator cuff thickening.
- Document conservative treatment history — duration of symptoms, prior PT, NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections — to support medical necessity for advanced imaging or surgical intervention.
- If concurrent impingement, bursitis, or partial rotator cuff tear is present, document each condition separately so additional codes (M75.41, M75.51, M75.11x) can be assigned.
Related CPT procedures
Procedure codes commonly billed with M75.31. Linking the right diagnosis to the right procedure is what establishes medical necessity.
Source · CMS LCDs · AAOS specialty guidance · claims-pattern analysis
Common coding pitfalls
The recurring mistakes coders make with M75.31 and adjacent codes.
Source · Editorial brief grounded in CDC ICD-10-CM tabular guidance, AAOS coding references, and cited references ↓
- Defaulting to M75.30 (unspecified shoulder) when the chart clearly states right shoulder — always assign the laterality-specific code when documented.
- Using M75.31 for generic rotator cuff tendinopathy without radiographic or ultrasound confirmation of calcification — non-calcific tendinopathy does not map here.
- Coding only M75.31 when the provider documents both calcific tendinitis and a rotator cuff tear — the tear requires its own code (e.g., M75.11x for non-traumatic incomplete tear).
- Applying S-code injury categories for a chronic, non-traumatic calcific process — M75.31 is an M-code and does not use 7th-character encounter extensions (A/D/S).
- Confusing M75.31 with M65.22x (calcific tendinitis of the upper arm/biceps region) — confirm the anatomical location is the shoulder tendon before selecting M75.31.
Clinical context
Source · Editorial summary grounded in 4 cited references ↓
M75.31 is the billable code for calcific tendinitis specifically affecting the right shoulder. It sits under parent code M75.3 (Calcific tendinitis of shoulder), which also covers an Applicable To note for calcified bursa of the shoulder. Use M75.31 only when the right side is explicitly documented; drop to M75.30 if laterality is absent from the record.
Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder involves calcium deposits — most commonly in the supraspinatus tendon — that provoke an inflammatory response ranging from mild chronic discomfort to acute, severely disabling pain. The diagnosis is typically confirmed by plain radiograph (AP and outlet views showing calcific density) or ultrasound. MRI is used when concurrent rotator cuff pathology is suspected. If the provider documents both calcific tendinitis and an associated rotator cuff tear, code both conditions separately, as they represent distinct pathologies.
When impingement syndrome co-exists, M75.41 (Impingement syndrome of right shoulder) may be reported additionally if separately documented and clinically distinct. The M75 category carries a Type 2 Excludes for shoulder-hand syndrome (M89.0-), meaning that condition can be coded alongside M75.31 if both are present and documented. Do not use M75.31 for traumatic tendon injuries — those belong under S-code categories with the appropriate 7th-character encounter extension.
Sibling codes
Other billable codes under M75.3 (laterality / anatomic variants).
Frequently asked questions
Source · Generated from the editorial pipeline, verified against 4 cited references ↓
01What is the difference between M75.31 and M75.30?
02Can M75.31 and M75.51 (bursitis of right shoulder) be reported together?
03Is radiographic confirmation required to code M75.31?
04Should M75.31 be used for rotator cuff tendinopathy without confirmed calcification?
05What CPT codes are most commonly paired with M75.31?
06Does M75.31 require a 7th-character extension?
07What is the correct code if the patient has calcific tendinitis in both shoulders?
Sources & references
Editorial content was developed using the following public sources. Last verified May 8, 2026.
- 01CDC ICD-10-CM Tabular List 2026 (effective Oct 1, 2025)
- 02icd10data.comhttps://www.icd10data.com/ICD10CM/Codes/M00-M99/M70-M79/M75-/M75.31
- 03aapc.comhttps://www.aapc.com/codes/icd-10-codes/M75.31
- 04findacode.comhttps://www.findacode.com/icd-10-cm/m75.31-calcific-tendinitis-right-shoulder-icd10cm-code.html
Mira AI Scribe
Mira AI Scribe captures laterality (right), the specific tendon involved, imaging confirmation of calcific deposits (radiograph or ultrasound), symptom duration, and prior conservative care attempts. This prevents downcoding to M75.30 (unspecified) and protects against payer audits that flag laterality mismatches between the procedure site and the diagnosis code.
See how Mira captures M75.31 documentation