Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H71

Cholesteatoma of middle ear

ICD-10-CM Code:
H71
ICD-10 Code for:
Cholesteatoma of middle ear
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Diseases of the ear and mastoid process
    (H60–H95)
    • Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
      (H65-H75)
      • Cholesteatoma of middle ear
        (H71)

H71 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of cholesteatoma of middle ear. 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 Cholesteatoma of middle ear

Non-specific codes like H71 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 cholesteatoma of middle ear:

  • H71.0 for Cholesteatoma of attic - NON-BILLABLE CODE

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

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

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

  • Use H71.03 for Cholesteatoma of attic, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H71.1 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum - NON-BILLABLE CODE

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

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

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

  • Use H71.13 for Cholesteatoma of tympanum, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H71.2 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid - NON-BILLABLE CODE

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

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

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

  • Use H71.23 for Cholesteatoma of mastoid, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H71.3 for Diffuse cholesteatosis - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.30 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, unspecified ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.31 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, right ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.32 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, left ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.33 for Diffuse cholesteatosis, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

  • H71.9 for Unspecified cholesteatoma - NON-BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.90 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, unspecified ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.91 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, right ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.92 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, left ear - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use H71.93 for Unspecified cholesteatoma, bilateral - BILLABLE CODE

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.


Type 2 Excludes

Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
  • cholesteatoma of external ear H60.4
  • recurrent cholesteatoma of postmastoidectomy cavity H95.0

Patient Education


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.

The infection usually affects the middle ear and is called otitis media. The tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can affect hearing, because sound cannot get through all that fluid.

If your child isn't old enough to say "My ear hurts," here are a few things to look for:

  • Tugging at ears
  • Crying more than usual
  • Fluid draining from the ear
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Balance difficulties
  • Hearing problems

Your health care provider will diagnose an ear infection by looking inside the ear with an instrument called an otoscope.

Often, ear infections go away on their own. Your health care provider may recommend pain relievers. Severe infections and infections in young babies may require antibiotics.

Children who get infections often may need surgery to place small tubes inside their ears. The tubes relieve pressure in the ears so that the child can hear again.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders


[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 - No Change, 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.