Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle (L02) ICD-10-CM
The L02 code range covers cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle with 105 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 80 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2026, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Use Additional Code
The “use additional code” indicates that a secondary code could be used to further specify the patient’s condition. This note is not mandatory and is only used if enough information is available to assign an additional code.
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.
Codes in the L02 Range 105 codes · 80 billable
- L02 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncleNon-billable
- L02.0 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of faceNon-billable
- L02.01 Cutaneous abscess of face
- L02.02 Furuncle of face
- L02.03 Carbuncle of face
- L02.1 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of neckNon-billable
- L02.11 Cutaneous abscess of neck
- L02.12 Furuncle of neck
- L02.13 Carbuncle of neck
- L02.2 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of trunkNon-billable
- L02.21 Cutaneous abscess of trunkNon-billable
- L02.211 Cutaneous abscess of abdominal wall
- L02.212 Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank] Updated
- L02.213 Cutaneous abscess of chest wall
- L02.214 Cutaneous abscess of groin
- L02.215 Cutaneous abscess of perineum
- L02.216 Cutaneous abscess of umbilicus
- L02.217 Cutaneous abscess of flank New
- L02.219 Cutaneous abscess of trunk, unspecified
- L02.22 Furuncle of trunkNon-billable
- L02.221 Furuncle of abdominal wall
- L02.222 Furuncle of back [any part, except buttock and flank] Updated
- L02.223 Furuncle of chest wall
- L02.224 Furuncle of groin
- L02.225 Furuncle of perineum
- L02.226 Furuncle of umbilicus
- L02.227 Furuncle of flank New
- L02.229 Furuncle of trunk, unspecified
- L02.23 Carbuncle of trunkNon-billable
- L02.231 Carbuncle of abdominal wall
- L02.232 Carbuncle of back [any part, except buttock]
- L02.233 Carbuncle of chest wall
- L02.234 Carbuncle of groin
- L02.235 Carbuncle of perineum
- L02.236 Carbuncle of umbilicus
- L02.239 Carbuncle of trunk, unspecified
- L02.3 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of buttockNon-billable
- L02.31 Cutaneous abscess of buttock
- L02.32 Furuncle of buttock
- L02.33 Carbuncle of buttock
- L02.4 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of limbNon-billable
- L02.41 Cutaneous abscess of limbNon-billable
- L02.411 Cutaneous abscess of right axilla
- L02.412 Cutaneous abscess of left axilla
- L02.413 Cutaneous abscess of right upper limb
- L02.414 Cutaneous abscess of left upper limb
- L02.415 Cutaneous abscess of right lower limb
- L02.416 Cutaneous abscess of left lower limb
- L02.419 Cutaneous abscess of limb, unspecified
- L02.42 Furuncle of limbNon-billable
- L02.421 Furuncle of right axilla
- L02.422 Furuncle of left axilla
- L02.423 Furuncle of right upper limb
- L02.424 Furuncle of left upper limb
- L02.425 Furuncle of right lower limb
- L02.426 Furuncle of left lower limb
- L02.429 Furuncle of limb, unspecified
- L02.43 Carbuncle of limbNon-billable
- L02.431 Carbuncle of right axilla
- L02.432 Carbuncle of left axilla
- L02.433 Carbuncle of right upper limb
- L02.434 Carbuncle of left upper limb
- L02.435 Carbuncle of right lower limb
- L02.436 Carbuncle of left lower limb
- L02.439 Carbuncle of limb, unspecified
- L02.5 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of handNon-billable
- L02.51 Cutaneous abscess of handNon-billable
- L02.511 Cutaneous abscess of right hand
- L02.512 Cutaneous abscess of left hand
- L02.519 Cutaneous abscess of unspecified hand
- L02.52 Furuncle handNon-billable
- L02.521 Furuncle right hand
- L02.522 Furuncle left hand
- L02.529 Furuncle unspecified hand
- L02.53 Carbuncle of handNon-billable
- L02.531 Carbuncle of right hand
- L02.532 Carbuncle of left hand
- L02.539 Carbuncle of unspecified hand
- L02.6 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of footNon-billable
- L02.61 Cutaneous abscess of footNon-billable
- L02.611 Cutaneous abscess of right foot
- L02.612 Cutaneous abscess of left foot
- L02.619 Cutaneous abscess of unspecified foot
- L02.62 Furuncle of footNon-billable
- L02.621 Furuncle of right foot
- L02.622 Furuncle of left foot
- L02.629 Furuncle of unspecified foot
- L02.63 Carbuncle of footNon-billable
- L02.631 Carbuncle of right foot
- L02.632 Carbuncle of left foot
- L02.639 Carbuncle of unspecified foot
- L02.8 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of other sitesNon-billable
- L02.81 Cutaneous abscess of other sitesNon-billable
- L02.811 Cutaneous abscess of head [any part, except face]
- L02.818 Cutaneous abscess of other sites
- L02.82 Furuncle of other sitesNon-billable
- L02.821 Furuncle of head [any part, except face]
- L02.828 Furuncle of other sites
- L02.83 Carbuncle of other sitesNon-billable
- L02.831 Carbuncle of head [any part, except face]
- L02.838 Carbuncle of other sites
- L02.9 Cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle, unspecifiedNon-billable
- L02.91 Cutaneous abscess, unspecified
- L02.92 Furuncle, unspecified
- L02.93 Carbuncle, unspecified
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the L02 range.
Abdominal Abscess
An abscess located in the abdominal cavity, i.e., the cavity between the diaphragm above and the pelvis below. (From Dorland, 27th ed)
Abscess
Accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection.
Amebiasis
Infection with any of various amebae. It is an asymptomatic carrier state in most individuals, but diseases ranging from chronic, mild diarrhea to fulminant dysentery may occur.
Brain Abscess
A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate in the brain, due to bacterial and other infections. The majority are caused by spread of infected material from a focus of suppuration elsewhere in the body, notably the PARANASAL SINUSES, middle ear (see EAR, MIDDLE); HEART (see also ENDOCARDITIS, BACTERIAL), and LUNG. Penetrating CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES may also be associated with this condition. Clinical manifestations include HEADACHE; SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits; and alterations of consciousness. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp712-6)
Carbuncle
An infection of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue that consists of a cluster of boils. Commonly, the causative agent is STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS. Carbuncles produce fever, leukocytosis, extreme pain, and prostration.
Empyema, Subdural
An intracranial or rarely intraspinal suppurative process invading the space between the inner surface of the DURA MATER and the outer surface of the ARACHNOID.
Epidural Abscess
Circumscribed collections of suppurative material occurring in the spinal or intracranial EPIDURAL SPACE. The majority of epidural abscesses occur in the spinal canal and are associated with OSTEOMYELITIS of a vertebral body; ANALGESIA, EPIDURAL; and other conditions. Clinical manifestations include local and radicular pain, weakness, sensory loss, URINARY INCONTINENCE, and FECAL INCONTINENCE. Cranial epidural abscesses are usually associated with OSTEOMYELITIS of a cranial bone, SINUSITIS, or OTITIS MEDIA. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p710 and pp1240-1; J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998 Aug;65(2):209-12)
Liver Abscess
Solitary or multiple collections of PUS within the liver as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents.
Liver Abscess, Amebic
Single or multiple areas of PUS due to infection by any ameboid protozoa (AMEBIASIS). A common form is caused by the ingestion of ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA.
Liver Abscess, Pyogenic
Single or multiple areas of PUS due to bacterial infection within the hepatic parenchyma. It can be caused by a variety of BACTERIA, local or disseminated from infections elsewhere such as in APPENDICITIS; CHOLECYSTITIS; PERITONITIS; and after LIVER TRANSPLANTATION.
Lung Abscess
Solitary or multiple collections of PUS within the lung parenchyma as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents.
Palatine Tonsil
A round-to-oval mass of lymphoid tissue embedded in the lateral wall of the PHARYNX. There is one on each side of the oropharynx in the fauces between the anterior and posterior pillars of the SOFT PALATE.
Periapical Abscess
Acute or chronic inflammation of tissues surrounding the apical portion of a tooth, associated with the collection of pus, resulting from infection following pulp infection through a carious lesion or as a result of an injury causing pulp necrosis. (Dorland, 27th ed)
Periodontal Abscess
Localized circumscribed purulent area of inflammation in the periodontal tissue. It is a derivative of marginal periodontitis and commonly associated with suprabony and infrabony pockets and interradicular involvements, in contrast to periapical abscess which is attributable to pulp necrosis.
Peritonsillar Abscess
An accumulation of purulent material in the area between the PALATINE TONSIL and its capsule.
Psoas Abscess
Abscess of the PSOAS MUSCLES resulting usually from disease of the lumbar vertebrae, with the pus descending into the muscle sheath. The infection is most commonly tuberculous or staphylococcal.
Psoas Muscles
A powerful flexor of the thigh at the hip joint (psoas major) and a weak flexor of the trunk and lumbar spinal column (psoas minor). Psoas is derived from the Greek psoa, the plural meaning muscles of the loin. It is a common site of infection manifesting as abscess (PSOAS ABSCESS). The psoas muscles and their fibers are also used frequently in experiments in muscle physiology.
Retropharyngeal Abscess
An accumulation of purulent material in the space between the PHARYNX and the CERVICAL VERTEBRAE. This usually results from SUPPURATION of retropharyngeal LYMPH NODES in patients with UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS, perforation of the pharynx, or head and neck injuries.
Staphylococcus aureus
Potentially pathogenic bacteria found in nasal membranes, skin, hair follicles, and perineum of warm-blooded animals. They may cause a wide range of infections and intoxications.
Subphrenic Abscess
Accumulation of purulent EXUDATES beneath the DIAPHRAGM, also known as upper abdominal abscess. It is usually associated with PERITONITIS or postoperative infections.
Tuberculoma, Intracranial
A well-circumscribed mass composed of tuberculous granulation tissue that may occur in the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, brain stem, or perimeningeal spaces. Multiple lesions are quite common. Management of intracranial manifestations vary with lesion site. Intracranial tuberculomas may be associated with SEIZURES, focal neurologic deficits, and INTRACRANIAL HYPERTENSION. Spinal cord tuberculomas may be associated with localized or radicular pain, weakness, sensory loss, and incontinence. Tuberculomas may arise as OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS, but also occur in immunocompetent individuals.
About the L02 Code Range
The ICD-10 code L02 and its subcodes are used to identify and classify various types of cutaneous abscesses, furuncles, and carbuncles, which are infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue occurring in specific body areas. These codes help distinguish the precise location of these painful skin infections, such as on the face, neck, trunk, limbs, hands, feet, buttocks, and other sites.
This coding section covers common terms like abscess of face, furuncle of neck, and carbuncle of limb. For example, the code L02.01 identifies a cutaneous abscess of the face and includes synonyms such as abscess of the temple region or cellulitis and abscess of cheek, aiding medical coders in mapping clinical language to accurate ICD-10 coding. Similarly, L02.92 corresponds to an unspecified furuncle, also known as a blind boil. This section facilitates precise documentation of skin infections to support correct diagnosis, treatment planning, and healthcare reporting for skin and subcutaneous tissue infections.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the L02 range?
Of the 105 codes in this range, 80 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the L02 range classify?
The range classifies cutaneous abscess, furuncle and carbuncle. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
