2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H71Cholesteatoma of middle ear

ICD-10-CM Codes›H60–H95›H65-H75›H71

ICD-10-CM H71
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

H71 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for cholesteatoma of middle ear, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as H71.00, H71.01, H71.02, and H71.03.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
H71
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Cholesteatoma of middle ear
Chapter
H65-H75
Diseases of middle ear and mastoid

Code Classification

ChapterH60–H95Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
SectionH65-H75Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
CategoryH71Cholesteatoma of middle ear
This CodeH71Cholesteatoma of middle ear

Specific Coding for Cholesteatoma of middle earOverview

Non-specific codes like H71 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • H71.0 for Cholesteatoma of attic

  • Use H71.00 for Cholesteatoma of attic, unspecified ear

  • Use H71.01 for Cholesteatoma of attic, right ear

  • Use H71.02 for Cholesteatoma of attic, left ear

  • Use H71.03 for Cholesteatoma of attic, bilateral

  • H71.1 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum

  • Use H71.10 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum, unspecified ear

  • Use H71.11 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum, right ear

  • Use H71.12 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum, left ear

  • Use H71.13 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum, bilateral

  • H71.2 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid

  • Use H71.20 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid, unspecified ear

  • Use H71.21 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid, right ear

  • Use H71.22 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid, left ear

  • Use H71.23 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid, bilateral

  • H71.3 for Diffuse cholesteatosis

  • Use H71.30 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, unspecified ear

  • Use H71.31 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, right ear

  • Use H71.32 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, left ear

  • Use H71.33 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, bilateral

  • H71.9 for Unspecified cholesteatoma

  • Use H71.90 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, unspecified ear

  • Use H71.91 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, right ear

  • Use H71.92 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, left ear

  • Use H71.93 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, bilateral

Tabular List NotesGuidance

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

Type 2 Excludes

  • cholesteatoma of external ear H60.4
  • recurrent cholesteatoma of postmastoidectomy cavity H95.0

Patient EducationClinical

Ear Infections

Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Adults can also get ear infections, but they are less common.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About H71Overview

Is H71 (Cholesteatoma of middle ear) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for cholesteatoma of middle ear, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for cholesteatoma of middle ear need a more specific code from this category, such as H71.00, H71.01, and H71.02.