2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G96.0

Cerebrospinal fluid leak

ICD-10-CM Code:
G96.0
ICD-10 Code for:
Cerebrospinal fluid leak
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]
Not chronic
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the nervous system
    (G00–G99)
    • Other disorders of the nervous system
      (G89-G99)
      • Other disorders of central nervous system
        (G96)

G96.0 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid leak. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Cerebrospinal fluid leak

Non-specific codes like G96.0 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for cerebrospinal fluid leak:

  • Use G96.00 for Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use G96.01 for Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use G96.02 for Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use G96.08 for Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use G96.09 for Other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak - BILLABLE CODE

Clinical Classification

Clinical Information

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through a hole through the skull bone most commonly draining from the nose (cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea) or the ear (cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea).
  • Subdural Effusion

    leakage and accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the subdural space which may be associated with an infectious process; craniocerebral trauma; brain neoplasms; intracranial hypotension; and other conditions.

Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries

The following annotation back-references are applicable to this diagnosis code. The Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries is a list of ICD-10-CM codes, organized "head to toe" into chapters and sections with coding notes and guidance for inclusions, exclusions, descriptions and more.


Code Also

Code Also
A "code also" note instructs that two codes may be required to fully describe a condition, but this note does not provide sequencing direction.
  • if applicable:
  • intracranial hypotension G96.81

Type 1 Excludes

Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
  • cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture G97.0

Convert G96.0 to ICD-9-CM

  • ICD-9-CM Code: 349.81 - Cerebrospinal rhinorrhea
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.
  • ICD-9-CM Code: 388.61 - Cerebrosp fluid otorrhea
    Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Brain Diseases

Your brain is the control center of your body. It controls your thoughts, memory, speech, and movement. It regulates the function of many organs. It's part of your nervous system, which also includes your spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The nervous system sends signals between your brain and the rest of the body. Your nerves take in information from your senses and send it to the brain to be processed. Your brain and nerves also communicate to help you move and to control your body's functions.

When the brain is healthy, it works quickly and automatically. But when you have a brain disease, it may affect how well you can function and do your daily activities. Some common brain diseases include:

  • Brain tumors, which can press on nerves and affect brain function.
  • Degenerative nerve diseases, which can affect many of your body's activities, such as balance, movement, talking, breathing, and heart function. Types include Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
  • Encephalitis (inflammation in the brain), which can lead to problems such as vision loss, weakness, and paralysis.
  • Genetic brain disorders, which are caused by changes in genes (also called variants or mutations). These disorders can affect the development and function of the brain.
  • Strokes, which can cause a loss of brain cells and can affect your ability to think clearly.
  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which can affect brain function. They may range from mild to severe. The effects of a TBI may be temporary or permanent.

The symptoms of brain diseases vary widely, depending on the specific problem. In some cases, damage is permanent. In other cases, treatments such as surgery, medicines, or therapies such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies, may cure the disease or improve the symptoms.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - Code Deleted, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.