ICD-10-CM L03: Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code (2025)

Official Description for L03

Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis

Coding Notes & Guidelines for L03

Excludes1: Not Coded Here

herpetic whitlow (B00.89)

Excludes1: Not Coded Here

lymphangitis NOS (I89.1)

Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • 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)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • cellulitis of fingers (L03.01-)
  • cellulitis of toes (L03.03-)
  • groin (L03.314)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • acute lymphangitis of fingers (L03.2-)
  • acute lymphangitis of toes (L03.04-)
  • acute lymphangitis of groin (L03.324)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • abscess of orbit (H05.01-)
  • cellulitis of ear (H60.1-)
  • cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0-)
  • cellulitis of head (L03.81)
  • cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (H04.3)
  • cellulitis of lip (K13.0)
  • cellulitis of mouth (K12.2)
  • cellulitis of nose (internal) (J34.0)
  • cellulitis of orbit (H05.01-)
  • cellulitis of scalp (L03.81)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • cellulitis of anal and rectal regions (K61.-)
  • cellulitis of breast NOS (N61.0)
  • cellulitis of female external genital organs (N76.4)
  • cellulitis of male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-)
  • omphalitis of newborn (P38.-)
  • puerperal cellulitis of breast (O91.2)
Excludes2: Not Included Here
  • cellulitis of umbilicus (L03.316)
  • cellulitis of groin (L03.314)
Excludes2: Not Included Here

cellulitis of face (L03.211)

Inclusion Terms
  • Infection of nail
  • Onychia
  • Paronychia
  • Perionychia
Inclusion Terms
  • Felon
  • Whitlow
Inclusion Terms

Hangnail with lymphangitis of finger

Inclusion Terms

Hangnail with lymphangitis of toe

Inclusion Terms

Preseptal cellulitis

Inclusion Terms

Cellulitis of scalp

Child Codes (More Specific Codes for L03):

L03.0 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of finger and toe L03.01 - Cellulitis of finger L03.011 - Cellulitis of right finger L03.012 - Cellulitis of left finger L03.019 - Cellulitis of unspecified finger L03.02 - Acute lymphangitis of finger L03.021 - Acute lymphangitis of right finger L03.022 - Acute lymphangitis of left finger L03.029 - Acute lymphangitis of unspecified finger L03.03 - Cellulitis of toe L03.031 - Cellulitis of right toe L03.032 - Cellulitis of left toe L03.039 - Cellulitis of unspecified toe L03.04 - Acute lymphangitis of toe L03.041 - Acute lymphangitis of right toe L03.042 - Acute lymphangitis of left toe L03.049 - Acute lymphangitis of unspecified toe L03.1 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb L03.11 - Cellulitis of other parts of limb L03.111 - Cellulitis of right axilla L03.112 - Cellulitis of left axilla L03.113 - Cellulitis of right upper limb L03.114 - Cellulitis of left upper limb L03.115 - Cellulitis of right lower limb L03.116 - Cellulitis of left lower limb L03.119 - Cellulitis of unspecified part of limb L03.12 - Acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb L03.121 - Acute lymphangitis of right axilla L03.122 - Acute lymphangitis of left axilla L03.123 - Acute lymphangitis of right upper limb L03.124 - Acute lymphangitis of left upper limb L03.125 - Acute lymphangitis of right lower limb L03.126 - Acute lymphangitis of left lower limb L03.129 - Acute lymphangitis of unspecified part of limb L03.2 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face and neck L03.21 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of face L03.211 - Cellulitis of face L03.212 - Acute lymphangitis of face L03.213 - Periorbital cellulitis L03.22 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of neck L03.221 - Cellulitis of neck L03.222 - Acute lymphangitis of neck L03.3 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of trunk L03.31 - Cellulitis of trunk L03.311 - Cellulitis of abdominal wall L03.312 - Cellulitis of back [any part except buttock] L03.313 - Cellulitis of chest wall L03.314 - Cellulitis of groin L03.315 - Cellulitis of perineum L03.316 - Cellulitis of umbilicus L03.317 - Cellulitis of buttock L03.319 - Cellulitis of trunk, unspecified L03.32 - Acute lymphangitis of trunk L03.321 - Acute lymphangitis of abdominal wall L03.322 - Acute lymphangitis of back [any part except buttock] L03.323 - Acute lymphangitis of chest wall L03.324 - Acute lymphangitis of groin L03.325 - Acute lymphangitis of perineum L03.326 - Acute lymphangitis of umbilicus L03.327 - Acute lymphangitis of buttock L03.329 - Acute lymphangitis of trunk, unspecified L03.8 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other sites L03.81 - Cellulitis of other sites L03.811 - Cellulitis of head [any part, except face] L03.818 - Cellulitis of other sites L03.89 - Acute lymphangitis of other sites L03.891 - Acute lymphangitis of head [any part, except face] L03.898 - Acute lymphangitis of other sites L03.9 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis, unspecified L03.90 - Cellulitis, unspecified L03.91 - Acute lymphangitis, unspecified

About ICD-10-CM Code L03 (Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis)

ICD-10-CM code L03 is a billable or specific ICD-10-CM code that can be used to indicate a diagnosis for reimbursement purposes. The 2025 edition of ICD-10-CM L03 became effective on October 1, 2024.

This page provides detailed information about L03 - Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis. It includes common terminology, coding guidelines such as "Includes," "Excludes1," and "Excludes2" notes, and information on required 7th characters. Utilizing this information correctly is essential for accurate medical coding and claims submission for conditions like Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis.