2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03: Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (2024)

ICD-10-CM Codes
L00-L99
L00-L08
L03-
2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03

Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

L03 should not be used for reimbursement purposes as there are multiple codes below it that contain a greater level of detail.
The 2024 edition of ICD-10-CM L03 became effective on October 1, 2023.
This is the American ICD-10-CM version of L03 - other international versions of ICD-10 L03 may differ.

Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes Help

A type 2 excludes note represents "not included here". A type 2 excludes note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition it is excluded from but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When a type 2 excludes note appears under a code it is acceptable to use both the code (L03) and the excluded code together.

cellulitis of anal and rectal region (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K61
- K61 Abscess of anal and rectal regions
  - K61.0 Anal abscess
  - K61.1 Rectal abscess
  - K61.2 Anorectal abscess
  - K61.3 Ischiorectal abscess
    - K61.31 Horseshoe abscess
    - K61.39 Other ischiorectal abscess
  - K61.4 Intrasphincteric abscess
  - K61.5 Supralevator abscess
K61.-)
cellulitis of external auditory canal (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H60.1
Cellulitis of external ear
Applicable To
- Cellulitis of auricle
- Cellulitis of external auditory canal
H60.1)
cellulitis of eyelid (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H00.0
Hordeolum (externum) (internum) of eyelid
H00.0)
cellulitis of female external genital organs (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N76.4
Abscess of vulva
Applicable To
- Furuncle of vulva
N76.4)
cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H04.3
Acute and unspecified inflammation of lacrimal passages
Type 1 Excludes
See Also
L03.116 - ICD-10 Code for Cellulitis of left lower limb - Billable
- neonatal dacryocystitis (P39.1)
H04.3)
cellulitis of male external genital organs (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N48.2
Other inflammatory disorders of penis
Type 1 Excludes
- balanitis (N48.1)
- balanitis xerotica obliterans (N48.0)
- balanoposthitis (N47.6)
Use Additional
- code (B95-B97), to identify infectious agent.
N48.2,
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N49
- N49 Inflammatory disorders of male genital organs...
  - N49.0 Inflammatory disorders of seminal vesicle
  - N49.1 Inflammatory disorders of spermatic cord, tun...
  - N49.2 Inflammatory disorders of scrotum
  - N49.3 Fournier gangrene
  - N49.8 Inflammatory disorders of other specified mal...
  - N49.9 Inflammatory disorder of unspecified male gen...
N49.-)
cellulitis of mouth (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code K12.2
Cellulitis and abscess of mouth
Applicable To
- Cellulitis of mouth (floor)
- Submandibular abscess
Type 2 Excludes
- abscess of salivary gland (K11.3)
- abscess of tongue (K14.0)
- periapical abscess (K04.6-K04.7)
- periodontal abscess (K05.21)
- peritonsillar abscess (J36)
K12.2)
cellulitis of nose (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J34.0
Abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of nose
Applicable To
- Cellulitis of nose
- Necrosis of nose
- Ulceration of nose
J34.0)
eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L98.3
Eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells]
L98.3)
febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L98.2
Febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet]
L98.2)
lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I89.1
Lymphangitis
Applicable To
- Chronic lymphangitis
- Lymphangitis NOS
- Subacute lymphangitis
Type 1 Excludes
- acute lymphangitis (L03.-)
I89.1)

The following code(s) above L03 contain annotation back-references

Annotation Back-References

In this context, annotation back-references refer to codes that contain:

Applicable To annotations, or
Code Also annotations, or
Code First annotations, or
Excludes1 annotations, or
Excludes2 annotations, or
Includes annotations, or
Note annotations, or
Use Additional annotations

that may be applicable to L03:

L00-L99
2024 ICD-10-CM Range L00-L99
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
Type 2 Excludes
- certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P04-P96)
- certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
- complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
- congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
- endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E88)
- lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)
- neoplasms (C00-D49)
- symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
- systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
- viral warts (B07.-)
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
L00-L08
2024 ICD-10-CM Range L00-L08
Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
Type 2 Excludes
- hordeolum (H00.0)
- infective dermatitis (L30.3)
- local infections of skin classified in Chapter 1
- lupus panniculitis (L93.2)
- panniculitis NOS (M79.3)
- panniculitis of neck and back (M54.0-)
- Perlèche NOS (K13.0)
- Perlèche due to candidiasis (B37.0)
- Perlèche due to riboflavin deficiency (E53.0)
- pyogenic granuloma (L98.0)
- relapsing panniculitis [Weber-Christian] (M35.6)
- viral warts (B07.-)
- zoster (B02.-)
Use Additional
- code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.
Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Clinical Information

A bacterial infection that affects and spreads in the skin and soft tissues. Signs and symptoms include pain, tenderness and reddening in the affected area, fever, chills, and lymphadenopathy.
An acute, diffuse, and suppurative inflammation of loose connective tissue, particularly the deep subcutaneous tissues, and sometimes muscle, which is most commonly seen as a result of infection of a wound, ulcer, or other skin lesions.
An acute, spreading infection of the deep tissues of the skin and muscle that causes the skin to become warm and tender and may also cause fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, and blisters.
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the deepest layer of your skin. Bacteria can enter your body through a break in the skin - from a cut, scratch, or bite. Usually if your skin gets infected, it's just the top layer and it goes away on its own with proper care. But with cellulitis, the deep skin tissues in the infected area become red, hot, irritated and painful. Cellulitis is most common on the face and lower legs. You may have cellulitis if you notice
- area of skin redness or swelling that gets larger
- tight, glossy look to skin
- pain or tenderness
- skin rash that happens suddenly and grows quickly
- signs of infection including fever, chills and muscle aches
cellulitis can be serious, and possibly even deadly, so prompt treatment is important. The goal of treatment is to control infection and prevent related problems. Treatment usually includes antibiotics.
Inflammation that may involve the skin and or subcutaneous tissues, and or muscle

Code History

2016 (effective 10/1/2015): New code (first year of non-draft ICD-10-CM)
2017 (effective 10/1/2016): No change
2018 (effective 10/1/2017): No change
2019 (effective 10/1/2018): No change
2020 (effective 10/1/2019): No change
2021 (effective 10/1/2020): No change
2022 (effective 10/1/2021): No change
2023 (effective 10/1/2022): No change
2024 (effective 10/1/2023): No change

Code annotations containing back-references to L03:

Type 1 Excludes: I89.1
ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I89.1
Lymphangitis
Applicable To
- Chronic lymphangitis
- Lymphangitis NOS
- Subacute lymphangitis
Type 1 Excludes
- acute lymphangitis (L03.-)

ICD-10-CM Codes Adjacent To L03

L02.82 Furuncle of other sites

L02.821 Furuncle of head [any part, except face]

L02.828 Furuncle of other sites

L02.83 Carbuncle of other sites

L02.831 Carbuncle of head [any part, except face]

L02.838 Carbuncle of other sites

L02.9 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle, unspecified

L02.91 Cutaneous abscess, unspecified

L02.92 Furuncle, unspecified

L02.93 Carbuncle, unspecified

L03 Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

L03.0 Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of finger and toe

L03.01 Cellulitis of finger

L03.011 Cellulitis of right finger

L03.012 Cellulitis of left finger

L03.019 Cellulitis of unspecified finger

L03.02 Acute lymphangitis of finger

L03.021 Acute lymphangitis of right finger

L03.022 Acute lymphangitis of left finger

L03.029 Acute lymphangitis of unspecified finger

L03.03 Cellulitis of toe

Reimbursement claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015 require the use of ICD-10-CM codes.

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03: Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (2024)

Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

Cellulitis of external ear

Hordeolum (externum) (internum) of eyelid

Abscess of vulva

Acute and unspecified inflammation of lacrimal passages

Other inflammatory disorders of penis

Cellulitis and abscess of mouth

Abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of nose

Eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells]

Febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet]

Lymphangitis

Lymphangitis