All ICD10 Codes
L02Not billable, use a more specific code below

Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle

In Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L08), chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue

81 billable codes under L02: 27 are a CC; none map to an HCC.A CC or MCC (major CC) is a secondary diagnosis that raises the MS-DRG payment.

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Instructional notes

Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable

  • abscess of anus and rectal regions (K61.-)
  • abscess of female genital organs (external) (N76.4)
  • abscess of male genital organs (external) (N48.2, N49.-)

Use additional code: add a second code for this, listed after this one

  • code to identify organism (B95-B96)

Also applies, from Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L08)

These notes sit on L00-L08 and apply to every code under it, including L02.

Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable

  • 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: add a second code for this, listed after this one

  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

Official coding guidelines

From the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY 2027 (CMS and NCHS). Links open the PDF at the right page.

Covers assigning pressure ulcer codes by site and stage, including unstageable, healing, healed, and progressing ulcers, and coding healing or progressing non-pressure chronic ulcers.

Read Section I.C.12 (page 58)

All codes under L02

L02 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.

L02 MS-DRGs

As the principal diagnosis, the billable codes under L02 group to these 7 MS-DRGs (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.

Other codes that refer to L02

Notes on these codes point to L02.

  • T65.84 Use Additional Code: cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle (L02.-)

About the condition

Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.

Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Read more about abscess on MedlinePlus

Code history

Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.