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G96.01 ICD-10-CM Code: Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43.0, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 091 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 092 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 093 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 01)
  • MS-DRG 791 — PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)
  • MS-DRG 793 — FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Official Registry Overview & Definition

Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (G96.01).

Official Tabular Instructional Notes

Sequencing, inclusion, and exclusion notes published for G96.01 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list.

Inclusion Terms

Alternative terms the tabular list files under this code.

  • Otorrhea due to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid CSF leak
  • Rhinorrhea due to spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid CSF leak
  • Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak from skull base

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Code Also

Additional codes that may be required to fully describe the encounter.

  • if applicable:
  • intracranial hypotension (G96.81-)

Frequently Compared Codes

The official Excludes notes on G96.01 name these codes. Each comparison page covers when the two can — or must not — be reported together.

Change history

  • FY2021 — 2020-10-01
    Added to the code set
    Cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous
    FY2021 changes

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim.

Contextual Map

Every relationship of G96.01 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Hierarchy

  • G00-G99 — Chapter 6: Diseases of the Nervous System (G00-G99) (G00-G99) [Hierarchy]

Clinical classification (CCSR)

  • NVS020 — Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative) [CCSR]

Potential MS-DRG

  • CC — Complication or Comorbidity [MS-DRG severity]: “As a secondary diagnosis this code can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier (CC).”
  • DRG 091 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH MCC (MDC 01)”
  • DRG 092 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH CC (MDC 01)”
  • DRG 093 — OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITHOUT CC/MCC [MS-DRG]: “OTHER DISORDERS OF NERVOUS SYSTEM WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 01)”
  • DRG 791 — PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS [MS-DRG]: “PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)”
  • DRG 793 — FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS [MS-DRG]: “FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)”

MDC crossing · procedures (8892)

  • MDC 01 — Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System [MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Nervous System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • MDC 15 — Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period [MDC crossing]: “Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs.”
  • 0016070 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Nasopharynx with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016071 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Mastoid Sinus with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016072 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Atrium with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016073 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Blood Vessel with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • 0016074 — Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach [Same-MDC procedure]: “Bypass Cerebral Ventricle to Pleural Cavity with Autologous Tissue Substitute, Open Approach — grouped in MDC 01, the procedure side of this code's crossing.” · check together
  • and 8887 more

Index entries

  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, cranial, spontaneous[Index term]
  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spontaneous, from, skull base[Index term]
  • Otorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid)[Index term]
  • Otorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid), spontaneous[Index term]
  • Rhinorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid)[Index term]
  • Rhinorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid), spontaneous[Index term]

Nearest codes (19)

  • G96 — Other disorders of central nervous system [Sibling]
  • G96.0 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak [Sibling]
  • G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified [Sibling]
  • G96.02 — Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous [Sibling]
  • G96.08 — Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak [Sibling]
  • G96.09 — Other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak [Sibling]
  • G96.1 — Disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified [Sibling]
  • G96.11 — Dural tear [Sibling]
  • and 11 more

Change history

  • FY2021 — Added to the code set [Change history]

Relationships & Classification

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):NVS020 — Other nervous system disorders (neither hereditary nor degenerative) (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Potential MS-DRG Relationships (FY2026)

CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 5 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 5 MS-DRGs: DRG 091 (MDC 01), DRG 092 (MDC 01), DRG 093 (MDC 01), DRG 791 (MDC 15), DRG 793 (MDC 15).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to G96.01 in its code family, with their registry titles.

  • G96 — Other disorders of central nervous system
  • G96.0 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • G96.00 — Cerebrospinal fluid leak, unspecified
  • G96.02 — Spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak, spontaneous
  • G96.08 — Other cranial cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • G96.09 — Other spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak
  • G96.1 — Disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified
  • G96.11 — Dural tear
  • G96.12 — Meningeal adhesions (cerebral) (spinal)
  • G96.19 — Other disorders of meninges, not elsewhere classified

View all codes in the G96 family

Indexed Clinical Terms (6)

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code.

  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, cranial, spontaneous
  • Leak, leakage, cerebrospinal fluid, spontaneous, from, skull base
  • Otorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid)
  • Otorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid), spontaneous
  • Rhinorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid)
  • Rhinorrhea, cerebrospinal (fluid), spontaneous