L03
Header — not billableCellulitis and acute lymphangitis
The ICD-10 code for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis is L03.
L03 is a non-billable header code. It groups related conditions but cannot be used on its own for reimbursement — select one of the 6 more specific codes below.
Clinical notes
Excludes2 (not included here)
An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of this one, but a patient can have both at the same time — in that case both codes may be reported together.
- cellulitis of anal and rectal region (K61.-)
- cellulitis of external auditory canal (H60.1)
- cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0)
- cellulitis of female external genital organs (N76.4)
- cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (H04.3)
- cellulitis of male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-)
- cellulitis of mouth (K12.2)
- cellulitis of nose (J34.0)
- eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3)
- febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2)
- lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (I89.1)
Documentation support
General coding-documentation guidance — not a substitute for payer-specific requirements or professional coding judgment.
- •This is a non-billable header code. Documentation must support a more specific child code before this diagnosis can be reported on a claim.
- •As a general rule, code to the highest level of specificity supported by the documentation in the medical record.
Child codes under L03
- L03.0Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of finger and toenon-billable header
- L03.1Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other parts of limbnon-billable header
- L03.2Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face and necknon-billable header
- L03.3Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of trunknon-billable header
- L03.8Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other sitesnon-billable header
- L03.9Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, unspecifiednon-billable header
Related codes in this category
- L00Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
- L01Impetigonon-billable header
- L02Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbunclenon-billable header
- L04Acute lymphadenitisnon-billable header
- L05Pilonidal cyst and sinusnon-billable header
- L08Other local infections of skin and subcutaneous tissuenon-billable header
- L03Cellulitis and acute lymphangitisnon-billable header