L04 vs M79.3
L04 (Acute lymphadenitis) compared with M79.3 (Panniculitis, unspecified), from the official CMS tabular data. Both may be reported when both conditions are documented (Excludes2).
Can these codes be reported together?
Yes, when both are documented. L04 carries an Excludes2 note covering M79.3: “panniculitis NOS (M79.3)”
Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.
Side by side
| L04Acute lymphadenitis | M79.3Panniculitis, unspecified | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing status | Non-billable header | Billable |
| Classification | L00-L99 — Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) | M00-M99 — Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (M00-M99) |
| Definition | Acute lymphadenitis is a non-billable ICD-10-CM category code (L04). | Panniculitis, unspecified is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (M79.3). |
| Includes | abscess (acute) of lymph nodes, except mesenteric acute lymphadenitis, except mesenteric | — |
| Use additional code | code (B95-B97) to identify infectious agent. | — |
Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2026). Not billing advice; verify sequencing rules for the encounter. All data sources