2027 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L03Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

ICD-10-CM Codes›L00–L99›L00-L08›L03

ICD-10-CM L03
CMSSource: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

L03 is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, so it cannot be submitted on claims. Use a more specific code from this category instead, such as L03.011, L03.012, L03.019, and L03.021.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
L03
Billable Status
No — Non-Billable Category
Code Describes
Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
Short Description
Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Chapter
L00-L08
Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Code Classification

ChapterL00–L99Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
SectionL00-L08Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
CategoryL03Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
This CodeL03Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

Specific Coding for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitisOverview

Non-specific codes like L03 require more characters. Use one of these billable codes instead:

  • L03.0 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of finger and toe

  • L03.01 for Cellulitis of finger

  • L03.02 for Acute lymphangitis of finger

  • L03.03 for Cellulitis of toe

  • L03.04 for Acute lymphangitis of toe

  • L03.1 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb

  • L03.11 for Cellulitis of other parts of limb

  • L03.12 for Acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb

  • L03.2 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face and neck

  • L03.21 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face

  • L03.22 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of neck

  • L03.3 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of trunk

  • L03.31 for Cellulitis of trunk

  • L03.32 for Acute lymphangitis of trunk

  • L03.8 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other sites

  • L03.81 for Cellulitis of other sites

  • L03.89 for Acute lymphangitis of other sites

  • L03.9 for Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, unspecified

  • Use L03.90 for Cellulitis, unspecified

  • Use L03.91 for Acute lymphangitis, unspecified

Instructional NotesGuidance

Instructions from the official ICD-10-CM Tabular List that apply to L03: its own notes plus those printed at block L00-L08 and Chapter 12. 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 L03 itself
  • cellulitis of anal and rectal region (K61.-)
  • cellulitis of external auditory canal (H60.1)
  • cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0)
  • cellulitis of female external genital organs (N76.4)
  • cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (H04.3)
  • cellulitis of male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-)
  • cellulitis of mouth (K12.2)
  • cellulitis of nose (J34.0)
  • eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3)
  • febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2)
  • lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (I89.1)
From Block L00-L08 Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue applies to 159 codes
  • hordeolum (H00.0)
  • infective dermatitis (L30.3)
  • local infections of skin classified in Chapter 1
  • lupus panniculitis (L93.2)
  • panniculitis NOS (M79.3)
  • panniculitis of neck and back (M54.0-)
  • Perlèche NOS (K13.0)
  • Perlèche due to candidiasis (B37.0)
  • Perlèche due to riboflavin deficiency (E53.0)
  • pyogenic granuloma (L98.0)
  • relapsing panniculitis [Weber-Christian] (M35.6)
  • viral warts (B07.-)
  • zoster (B02.-)
From Chapter 12 (L00-L99) Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue applies to 1,001 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)
  • lipomelanotic reticulosis (I89.8)
  • neoplasms (C00-D49)
  • symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R94)
  • systemic connective tissue disorders (M30-M36)
  • viral warts (B07.-)

Use Additional Code

Add a second code, after this one, to fully describe the condition.

From Block L00-L08 Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue applies to 159 codes
  • code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent.

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

Referenced in Other NotesGuidance

Instructional notes printed at other codes that name L03, its category, or a range that includes it.

Excludes1 1

These codes carry an Excludes1 note naming L03: they are not reported together with it, unless the two conditions are unrelated.

Use Additional Code 1

These codes say to use an additional code from the note, and L03 is one of the codes named.

  • T65.84 Toxic effect of xylazine
    cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (L03.-)

Patient EducationClinical

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deep underlying tissues. Group A strep (streptococcal) bacteria are the most common cause. The bacteria enter your body when you get an injury such as a bruise, burn, surgical cut, or wound.

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 L03Overview

What is the ICD-10 code for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis?

L03 is the ICD-10-CM category for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, but it is a non-billable header: claims need a more specific code from this category, listed on this page.

Is L03 (Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis) a billable code?

No. This is a category header that groups the codes for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, and headers cannot be submitted on claims. Claims for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis need a more specific code from this category, such as L03.011, L03.012, and L03.019.