ICD-10 Code for Cellulitis

Also indexed as (diffuse) (phlegmonous) (septic) (suppurative)

The ICD-10-CM code for cellulitis is L03.90 — Cellulitis, unspecified. This is the code the Alphabetic Index gives for cellulitis with no further qualifier, valid for FY2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027).

BillableUnspecified

L03.90 is billable but unspecified. If the documentation names a type, site or cause, one of the more specific codes below is likely expected.

Which cellulitis code should you use?

The Alphabetic Index lists 51 codes under Cellulitis. Which one applies depends on the qualifier documented in the record — the type, site, cause, or associated condition. Find the qualifier below, then verify the code in the Tabular List before using it.

By type

abdominal wall	L03.311	Cellulitis of abdominal wall
anaerobic	A48.0	Gas gangrene
anus	K61.0	Anal abscess
axilla	L03.11	Cellulitis of other parts of limb	not billable
back	L03.312	Cellulitis of back [any part except buttock and flank]
breast	N61.0	Mastitis without abscess
buttock	L03.317	Cellulitis of buttock
cervical	L03.221	Cellulitis of neck
cheek	L03.211	Cellulitis of face
chest wall	L03.313	Cellulitis of chest wall
chronic	L03.90	Cellulitis, unspecified
clostridial	A48.0	Gas gangrene
corpus cavernosum	N48.22	Cellulitis of corpus cavernosum and penis
drainage site	T81.49	Infection following a procedure, other surgical site	not billable
ear	H60.1	Cellulitis of external ear	not billable
eosinophilic	L98.3	Eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells]
face NEC	L03.211	Cellulitis of face
finger	L03.01	Cellulitis of finger	not billable
flank	L03.31A	Cellulitis of flank
gluteal	L03.317	Cellulitis of buttock
gonococcal	A54.89	Other gonococcal infections
groin	L03.314	Cellulitis of groin
head NEC	L03.811	Cellulitis of head [any part, except face]
jaw	L03.211	Cellulitis of face
larynx	J38.7	Other diseases of larynx
lip	K13.0	Diseases of lips
lower limb	L03.11	Cellulitis of other parts of limb	not billable
mouth	K12.2	Cellulitis and abscess of mouth
multiple sites, so stated	L03.90	Cellulitis, unspecified
nasopharynx	J39.1	Other abscess of pharynx
navel	L03.316	Cellulitis of umbilicus
neck	L03.221	Cellulitis of neck
nipple	N61.0	Mastitis without abscess
nose	J34.0	Abscess, furuncle and carbuncle of nose
orbit, orbital	H05.01	Cellulitis of orbit	not billable
palate	K12.2	Cellulitis and abscess of mouth
pectoral	L03.313	Cellulitis of chest wall
penis	N48.22	Cellulitis of corpus cavernosum and penis
perineal, perineum	L03.315	Cellulitis of perineum
periorbital	L03.213	Periorbital cellulitis
perirectal	K61.1	Rectal abscess
peritonsillar	J36	Peritonsillar abscess
periurethral	N34.0	Urethral abscess
periuterine	N73.2	Unspecified parametritis and pelvic cellulitis
pharynx	J39.1	Other abscess of pharynx
preseptal	L03.213	Periorbital cellulitis
rectum	K61.1	Rectal abscess
retroperitoneal	K68.9	Other disorders of retroperitoneum
scalp	L03.811	Cellulitis of head [any part, except face]
scrotum	N49.2	Inflammatory disorders of scrotum
seminal vesicle	N49.0	Inflammatory disorders of seminal vesicle
specified site NEC	L03.818	Cellulitis of other sites
submandibular	K12.2	Cellulitis and abscess of mouth
submaxillary	K12.2	Cellulitis and abscess of mouth
toe	L03.03	Cellulitis of toe	not billable
tonsil	J36	Peritonsillar abscess
trunk	L03.319	Cellulitis of trunk, unspecified
tuberculous	A18.4	Tuberculosis of skin and subcutaneous tissue
umbilicus	L03.316	Cellulitis of umbilicus
upper limb	L03.11	Cellulitis of other parts of limb	not billable
vaccinal	T88.0	Infection following immunization	not billable
vocal cord	J38.3	Other diseases of vocal cords

Cellulitis breast

nipple

N61.0

Mastitis without abscess

Cellulitis broad ligament

acute

N73.0

Acute parametritis and pelvic cellulitis

Cellulitis cheek

internal

K12.2

Cellulitis and abscess of mouth

Cellulitis Douglas' cul-de-sac or pouch

acute

N73.0

Acute parametritis and pelvic cellulitis

Cellulitis genital organ NEC

female	N76.4	Abscess of vulva
male	N49.9	Inflammatory disorder of unspecified male genital organ
male › multiple sites	N49.8	Inflammatory disorders of other specified male genital organs
male › specified NEC	N49.8	Inflammatory disorders of other specified male genital organs

Cellulitis head NEC

face

L03.211

Cellulitis of face

Cellulitis navel

newborn	P38.9	Omphalitis without hemorrhage
newborn › with mild hemorrhage	P38.1	Omphalitis with mild hemorrhage
newborn › without hemorrhage	P38.9	Omphalitis without hemorrhage

Cellulitis pelvis, pelvic

female	N73.2	Unspecified parametritis and pelvic cellulitis
following ectopic or molar pregnancy	O08.0	Genital tract and pelvic infection following ectopic and molar pregnancy
male	K65.0	Generalized (acute) peritonitis
female › acute	N73.0	Acute parametritis and pelvic cellulitis

Cellulitis periuterine

acute

N73.0

Acute parametritis and pelvic cellulitis

Cellulitis round ligament

acute

N73.0

Acute parametritis and pelvic cellulitis

Cellulitis submandibular

gland

K11.3

Abscess of salivary gland

Cellulitis submaxillary

gland

K11.3

Abscess of salivary gland

Cellulitis trunk

abdominal wall	L03.311	Cellulitis of abdominal wall
back	L03.312	Cellulitis of back [any part except buttock and flank]
buttock	L03.317	Cellulitis of buttock
chest wall	L03.313	Cellulitis of chest wall
groin	L03.314	Cellulitis of groin
perineal, perineum	L03.315	Cellulitis of perineum
umbilicus	L03.316	Cellulitis of umbilicus

Index terms and codes are reproduced from the official ICD-10-CM FY2027 release. The Alphabetic Index is a finding aid — a code must always be verified in the Tabular List before it is reported. Data sources