2027 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 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

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
Short Description
Cholesteatoma of middle ear
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
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

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to H71: its own notes plus those printed at Chapter 8. A note printed at a category, block or chapter applies to every code under it.

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.

On H71 itself
  • cholesteatoma of external ear (H60.4-)
  • recurrent cholesteatoma of postmastoidectomy cavity (H95.0-)
From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 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)

Notes

General instructions on how these codes are used.

From Chapter 8 (H60-H95) Diseases of the ear and mastoid process applies to 653 codes
  • Use an external cause code following the code for the ear condition, if applicable, to identify the cause of the ear condition

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name H71, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes2 1

These codes carry an Excludes2 note naming H71: its condition is not part of those codes, and both may be reported when the patient has both.

  • H60.4 Cholesteatoma of external ear
    cholesteatoma of middle ear (H71.-)

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Middle Ear Cholesteatoma

    a non-neoplastic lesion characterized by the proliferation of keratinizing squamous epithelium in the middle ear that results in the accumulation of keratin and cells. it is usually caused by repeated infections. if left untreated, it may increase in size and destroy the adjacent delicate bones of the middle ear.

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 2017–2026No changes
FY 2027CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Questions About H71Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for cholesteatoma of middle ear?

H71 is the ICD-10-CM category for cholesteatoma of middle ear, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

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.