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  5. Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (L03)

Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (L03)

ICD-10 codes in the L03 section cover diagnosis of cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, which are infections affecting the skin, underlying tissues, and lymphatic vessels. These codes specify the infected body part, such as fingers, toes, limbs, face, neck, trunk, or other sites.

This section includes precise codes like L03.011 for cellulitis of the right finger, often called "paronychia" or "onychia" when involving nail infections, and L03.031 for cellulitis of the right toe, which may relate to ingrown nails or abscesses. Acute lymphangitis codes, such as L03.121 for right axilla or L03.321 for abdominal wall, identify inflammation of lymph vessels. The detailed codes help medical coders distinguish between sites and specify laterality (right, left, unspecified), aiding accurate clinical documentation and billing. Unspecified codes like L03.90 for general cellulitis or L03.91 for unspecified lymphangitis serve when more precise localization is unavailable. Understanding synonyms like "preseptal cellulitis" for periorbital cellulitis (L03.213) assists in selecting the correct ICD-10 code for cellulitis and acute lymphangitis in specialized body areas.

Instructional Notations

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.

  • 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

Clinical Terms

The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.

Broad Ligament

A broad fold of peritoneum that extends from the side of the uterus to the wall of the pelvis.

Cellulitis

An acute, diffuse, and suppurative inflammation of loose connective tissue, particularly the deep subcutaneous tissues, and sometimes muscle, which is most commonly seen as a result of infection of a wound, ulcer, or other skin lesions.

Orbital Cellulitis

Inflammation of the loose connective tissues around the ORBIT, bony structure around the eyeball. It is characterized by PAIN; EDEMA of the CONJUNCTIVA; swelling of the EYELIDS; EXOPHTHALMOS; limited eye movement; and loss of vision.

Parametritis

Inflammation of the parametrium, the connective tissue of the pelvic floor, extending from the subserous coat of the uterus laterally between the layers of the BROAD LIGAMENT.

Paronychia

An inflammatory reaction involving the folds of the skin surrounding the fingernail. It is characterized by acute or chronic purulent, tender, and painful swellings of the tissues around the nail, caused by an abscess of the nail fold. The pathogenic yeast causing paronychia is most frequently Candida albicans. Saprophytic fungi may also be involved. The causative bacteria are usually Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Streptococcus. (Andrews' Diseases of the Skin, 8th ed, p271)