2026 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 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

G96.00 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). 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

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Code Also

  • if applicable:
  • head injury S00 S09

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Leak, leakage
      • cerebrospinal fluid

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).

  • 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.

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the external auditory meatus or through the eustachian tube into the nasopharynx. this is usually associated with craniocerebral trauma (e.g., skull fracture involving the temporal bone;), neurosurgical procedures; or other conditions, but may rarely occur spontaneously. (from am j otol 1995 nov;16(6):765-71)

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose. common etiologies include trauma, neoplasms, and prior surgery, although the condition may occur spontaneously. (otolaryngol head neck surg 1997 apr;116(4):442-9)

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the ear structures.

  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea

    discharge of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose.

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 2022–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About G96.00Overview

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, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

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.