2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code G96.00Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›G00–G99›G89-G99›G96

ICD-10-CM G96.00
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

G96.00 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) and groups to MS-DRG 91 through 93, 791, 793. As a secondary diagnosis, it counts as a complication or comorbidity (CC) and moves an inpatient stay to a higher severity level within its MS-DRG family. It does not count, however, when the principal diagnosis is one of 5 closely related codes. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative).

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
G96.00
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified
Short Description
Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
G96.0
Cerebrospinal fluid leak

Code Classification

ChapterG00–G99Diseases of the nervous system
SectionG89-G99Other disorders of the nervous system
CategoryG96Other disorders of central nervous system
This CodeG96.00Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Acute non-traumatic subdural hygroma
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leak from mouth
  • Cerebrospinal fluid leak from nose and mouth
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to congenital deformity of labyrinth
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to encephalocele
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to giant arachnoid granulation
  • Cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea due to otitis media
  • Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea
  • Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea due to empty sella syndrome
  • Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea due to hydrocephalus
  • Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea due to pituitary tumor
  • Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • Postoperative cerebrospinal otorrhea
  • Post-traumatic cerebrospinal otorrhea
  • Post-traumatic subdural hygroma
  • Subdural hygroma

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to G96.00: its own notes plus those printed at G96.0 and Chapter 6. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

Excludes1

Not coded here: the excluded code is never reported together with this one, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

From G96.0 Cerebrospinal fluid leak applies to 5 codes
  • cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (G97.0)

Excludes2

Not included here: the excluded condition is not part of this code, but a patient may have both, so both codes may be reported.

From Chapter 6 (G00-G99) Diseases of the nervous system applies to 700 codes
  • 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)
  • injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)

Code Also

A second code may be needed to fully describe the condition; the note gives no sequencing direction.

On G96.00 itself
  • if applicable:
  • head injury (S00-S09)
From G96.0 Cerebrospinal fluid leak applies to 5 codes
  • if applicable:
  • intracranial hypotension (G96.81-)

Source: CMS ICD-10-CM Tabular List. How to read instructional notes.

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name G96.00, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming G96.00: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

  • H92.1 Otorrhea
    leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through ear (G96.0) names G96.0, which includes this code

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR NVS020
Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative)
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • 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).

Code History & ChangesHistory

Replacement G96.00 replaces the following previously assigned code(s):

  • G96.0 - Cerebrospinal fluid leak
FY 2021AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2020.
FY 2022–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About G96.00Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified?

The ICD-10-CM code for cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified is G96.00 (sometimes written as G9600). It is billable on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Is G96.00 (Cerebrospinal fluid leak) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

What MS-DRG does G96.00 group to?

When cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 793, 791, 91, 92, 93, with relative weights from 0.7783 to 4.2192 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Is G96.00 a CC or MCC?

CMS lists G96.00 as a CC (complication or comorbidity) for FY 2027. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, it moves the inpatient stay to a higher-weighted DRG within its severity family. It does not count when the principal diagnosis is one of the 5 closely related codes in its exclusion list.

Can G96.00 be reported with G97.0?

Not as a rule. The Excludes1 note at G96.0, which applies to G96.00, lists "cerebrospinal fluid leak from spinal puncture (G97.0)". An Excludes1 note means the excluded code is never reported together with this one; the only exception is when the two conditions are unrelated to each other (Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).