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

Table of Contents
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 Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissueType 2 Excludescertain 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.-) Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissueType 2 Excludeshordeolum (H00.0)infective dermatitis (L30.3)local infections of skin classified in Chapter 1lupus 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 Additionalcode (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent. Lymphangitis
  1. ICD-10-CM Codes
  2. L00-L99
  3. L00-L08
  4. L03-
  5. 2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03: Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (1)

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

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

    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

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code
    H00.0)
  • cellulitis of female external genital organs (

    ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N76.4

    Abscess of vulva

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code Female Dx

    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

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

    Type 1 Excludes

    • neonatal dacryocystitis (P39.1)
    H04.3)
  • cellulitis of male external genital organs (

    ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code N48.2

    Other inflammatory disorders of penis

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Non-Billable/Non-Specific Code

    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

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code

    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

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code

    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]

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code
    L98.3)
  • febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (

    ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L98.2

    Febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet]

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code
    L98.2)
  • lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (

    ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code I89.1

    Lymphangitis

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code

    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

      2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Billable/Specific Code

    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)
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