Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
In Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L08), chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
55 billable codes under L03: 43 are a CC; none map to an HCC.A CC or MCC (major CC) is a secondary diagnosis that raises the MS-DRG payment.
Instructional notes
Excludes2: not included here, code separately if applicable
- 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)
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 L03.
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.
All codes under L03
L03 can't be used on a claim. Pick a billable code below; grey headings group them.
- L03.0Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of finger and toe
- L03.01Cellulitis of finger
- L03.011Cellulitis of right finger
- L03.012Cellulitis of left finger
- L03.019Cellulitis of unspecified finger
- L03.02Acute lymphangitis of finger
- L03.021Acute lymphangitis of right finger
- L03.022Acute lymphangitis of left finger
- L03.029Acute lymphangitis of unspecified finger
- L03.03Cellulitis of toe
- L03.031Cellulitis of right toe
- L03.032Cellulitis of left toe
- L03.039Cellulitis of unspecified toe
- L03.04Acute lymphangitis of toe
- L03.041Acute lymphangitis of right toe
- L03.042Acute lymphangitis of left toe
- L03.049Acute lymphangitis of unspecified toe
- L03.1Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb
- L03.11Cellulitis of other parts of limb
- L03.111Cellulitis of right axilla
- L03.112Cellulitis of left axilla
- L03.113Cellulitis of right upper limb
- L03.114Cellulitis of left upper limb
- L03.115Cellulitis of right lower limb
- L03.116Cellulitis of left lower limb
- L03.119Cellulitis of unspecified part of limb
- L03.12Acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb
- L03.121Acute lymphangitis of right axilla
- L03.122Acute lymphangitis of left axilla
- L03.123Acute lymphangitis of right upper limb
- L03.124Acute lymphangitis of left upper limb
- L03.125Acute lymphangitis of right lower limb
- L03.126Acute lymphangitis of left lower limb
- L03.129Acute lymphangitis of unspecified part of limb
- L03.2Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face and neck
- L03.21Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face
- L03.211Cellulitis of face
- L03.212Acute lymphangitis of face
- L03.213Periorbital cellulitis
- L03.22Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of neck
- L03.221Cellulitis of neck
- L03.222Acute lymphangitis of neck
- L03.3Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of trunk
- L03.31Cellulitis of trunk
- L03.311Cellulitis of abdominal wall
- L03.312Cellulitis of back [any part except buttock and flank]
- L03.313Cellulitis of chest wall
- L03.314Cellulitis of groin
- L03.315Cellulitis of perineum
- L03.316Cellulitis of umbilicus
- L03.317Cellulitis of buttock
- L03.319Cellulitis of trunk, unspecified
- L03.31ACellulitis of flank
- L03.32Acute lymphangitis of trunk
- L03.321Acute lymphangitis of abdominal wall
- L03.322Acute lymphangitis of back [any part except buttock and flank]
- L03.323Acute lymphangitis of chest wall
- L03.324Acute lymphangitis of groin
- L03.325Acute lymphangitis of perineum
- L03.326Acute lymphangitis of umbilicus
- L03.327Acute lymphangitis of buttock
- L03.329Acute lymphangitis of trunk, unspecified
- L03.32AAcute lymphangitis of flank
- L03.8Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other sites
- L03.81Cellulitis of other sites
- L03.811Cellulitis of head [any part, except face]
- L03.818Cellulitis of other sites
- L03.89Acute lymphangitis of other sites
- L03.891Acute lymphangitis of head [any part, except face]
- L03.898Acute lymphangitis of other sites
- L03.9Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, unspecified
- L03.90Cellulitis, unspecified
- L03.91Acute lymphangitis, unspecified
MS-DRGs
As the principal diagnosis, the billable codes under L03 group to these MS-DRGs (v44.0). Which one applies depends on procedures performed, secondary diagnoses (CC/MCC), and the patient's age and discharge status.
- DRG 573 Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with MCC (50 of 55 codes)
- DRG 574 Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis with CC (50 of 55 codes)
- DRG 575 Skin Graft for Skin Ulcer or Cellulitis without CC/MCC (50 of 55 codes)
- DRG 602 Cellulitis with MCC (50 of 55 codes)
- DRG 603 Cellulitis without MCC (50 of 55 codes)
- DRG 791 Prematurity with Major Problems (38 of 55 codes)
- DRG 793 Full Term Neonate with Major Problems (38 of 55 codes)
Other codes that refer to L03
Notes on these codes point to L03.
About the condition
Plain-language background from MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine), not coding guidance.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deep underlying tissues. Group A strep (streptococcal) bacteria are the most common cause. The bacteria enter your body when you get an injury such as a bruise, burn, surgical cut, or wound.
Read more about cellulitis on MedlinePlusCode history
Valid since FY2016, when ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. No changes since.