H60.21 (Malignant otitis externa, right ear) compared with H60.22 (Malignant otitis externa, left ear), from the official CMS tabular data. H60.21 and H60.22 code the same condition on opposite sides.
Same condition; these differ only in which side is documented.
These codes share a category and title and differ only in the side affected. The documentation decides which applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.
Source: ICD-10-CM tabular list (laterality variant derived from the code title)
Same condition, opposite side. H60.21 and H60.22 name the same condition on opposite sides of the body.
Same category and title, differing only in which side is affected — the documentation decides which one applies, and a bilateral code is reported only where the code set provides one.
| H60.21Malignant otitis externa, right ear | H60.22Malignant otitis externa, left ear | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Billable | Billable |
| Classification | H60-H95 — Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process (H60-H95) | H60-H95 — Diseases of the Ear and Mastoid Process (H60-H95) |
| Definition | Malignant otitis externa, right ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.21). | Malignant otitis externa, left ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H60.22). |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources