EPI is largely a clinical diagnosis

Look for signs and symptoms and have an open discussion with patients

Patients may present with signs and symptoms similar to those of other GI conditions. Any one or combination of the following symptoms could mean EPI2:

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Bloating

Flatulence

Unexplained weight loss

Steatorrhea*

It’s important to discuss the frequency and severity of symptoms and assess clinical features, such as symptom onset and stool quality.3

Consider underlying conditions and surgical procedures

Discuss underlying conditions and surgical procedures in which EPI may be present4-7:

  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Pancreatectomy
  • Pancreatic cancer

Other underlying conditions and surgical procedures in which EPI has been reported include8-12:

  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Celiac disease
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Gastric resection/bypass
  • Type 1 diabetes

Monitor patients with underlying conditions and procedures for symptoms that can indicate EPI.3

Testing can help confirm a clinical diagnosis

  • Tests such as fecal elastase-1 (FE-1), qualitative fecal fat analysis, or quantitative fecal fat analysis can help confirm an EPI diagnosis13-15
  • Despite available tests, diagnosis of EPI remains largely clinical13
  • No single, convenient, and sensitive diagnostic test is available for EPI14,15

Code directly for EPI using ICD-10 code K86.8116

Benefits of using ICD-10 code include:

  • Coding directly for EPI16
  • Measuring patient outcomes17
  • Improving diagnostic and epidemiologic data available17
  • Increasing efficiency in the exchange of clinical information17

ICD-10 code


K86.81

Review insights that shed light on some of the difficulties associated with diagnosing EPI.

Tools and resources are available to help you diagnose and manage EPI.

*Steatorrhea: ≥7 g of fecal fat per day while consuming 100 g of dietary fat per day in a 72-hour stool test.13

EPI = exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.