H71.20 (Cholesteatoma of mastoid, unspecified ear) compared with H71.21 (Cholesteatoma of mastoid, right ear), from the official CMS tabular data. H71.20 and H71.21 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. H71.20 and H71.21 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.
| H71.20Cholesteatoma of mastoid, unspecified ear | H71.21Cholesteatoma of mastoid, right 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 | Cholesteatoma of mastoid, unspecified ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H71.20). | Cholesteatoma of mastoid, right ear is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (H71.21). |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources