L03.04 ICD-10-CM Code: Acute lymphangitis of toe

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for L03.04 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2027Effective: October 1, 2026

Notes without a marker are published on L03.04 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for L03.04

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code L03.04

1. L03.04 is not reportable as written. Select the more specific code beneath it that the documentation supports. Codes are reported to the highest level of specificity the classification provides (Guidelines I.B.2).

   ReviewL03.041, L03.042, L03.049

   See the relationships section · Guide: How to choose an ICD-10-CM code →

Choose the right path

1. Does the documentation support one of the more specific codes beneath L03.04?
   Yes → Select that code and continue the checks below on its own page.
   No → L03.04 cannot be reported as written; query for the specificity its subcategory needs.

   ReviewL03.041, L03.042, L03.049

Consider L03.04. Then work the Use Additional Code note, and confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Acuity

Acute or chronic as documented; when both are documented and separate codes exist, both are reported with the acute code first (Guidelines I.B.8).

The conditions the Use Additional Code note names

Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes2 — not part of L03.04(24 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in L03.04. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareK61, H60.1, H00.0, N76.4, H04.3, N48.2

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

• Use Additional Code — after identifying L03.04(1 note)

  Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with L03.04 when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Don’t confuse L03.04 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of L03.04 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• K61— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cellulitis of anal and rectal region adds K61; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L03.04 vs K61 →

• H60.1— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cellulitis of external auditory canal adds H60.1; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L03.04 vs H60.1 →

• H00.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cellulitis of eyelid adds H00.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L03.04 vs H00.0 →

• N76.4— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cellulitis of female external genital organs adds N76.4; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L03.04 vs N76.4 →

• H04.3— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus adds H04.3; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L03.04 vs H04.3 →

• N48.2— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of cellulitis of male external genital organs adds N48.2; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L03.04 vs N48.2 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• Not billable as written — a more specific code is required: L03.041, L03.042, L03.049.

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

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name L03.04 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 1 Excludes1 note: I89.1 — Lymphangitis (via L03.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 6 Excludes2 notes: L03.12 — Acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb, L60 — Nail disorders (via L03.0.-), L89 — Pressure ulcer (via L03.-), L97 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified (via L03.-), L98.4 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified (via L03.-), L98.A — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified (via L03.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Referenced by 1 Use Additional Code instruction: T65.84 — Toxic effect of xylazine (via L03.-).

These codes instruct coders to additionally report this code when it applies.

Related Codes

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main term “Lymphangitis”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

A18.2 — Tuberculous peripheral lymphadenopathy (strumous, tuberculous), A54.09 — Other gonococcal infection of lower genitourinary tract (penis, gonococcal), A57 — Chancroid (chancroidal), B74.0 — Filariasis due to Wuchereria bancrofti (due to, Wuchereria bancrofti), B74.1 — Filariasis due to Brugia malayi (due to, Brugia), B74.2 — Filariasis due to Brugia timori (due to, Brugia, timori), H60.1 — Cellulitis of external ear (acute, ear), I89.1 — Lymphangitis, N48.29 — Other inflammatory disorders of penis (penis, acute), O08.0 — Genital tract and pelvic infection following ectopic and molar pregnancy (with, ectopic or molar pregnancy), O08.89 — Other complications following an ectopic and molar pregnancy (following ectopic or molar pregnancy), O86.89 — Other specified puerperal infections (puerperal, postpartum, childbirth)

Contextual Map

Every relationship of L03.04 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.

Run L03.04 with these 8 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• L00-L99 — Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) (L00-L99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

• I89.1 — Lymphangitis[Excludes1](via L03.-): “acute lymphangitis (L03.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• L03.12 — Acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb[Excludes2]: “acute lymphangitis of toes (L03.04-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• L60 — Nail disorders[Excludes2](via L03.0.-): “onychia and paronychia (L03.0-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• L89 — Pressure ulcer[Excludes2](via L03.-): “skin infections (L00-L08)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• L97 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of lower limb, not elsewhere classified[Excludes2](via L03.-): “skin infections (L00-L08)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.4 — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified[Excludes2](via L03.-): “skin infections (L00-L08)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• L98.A — Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified[Excludes2](via L03.-): “skin infections (L00-L08)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Use Additional Code instructions

• T65.84 — Toxic effect of xylazine[Use Additional Code](via L03.-): “cellulitis and acute lymphangitis (L03.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (40)

• L03 — Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.0 — Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of finger and toe[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.01 — Cellulitis of finger[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.011 — Cellulitis of right finger[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.012 — Cellulitis of left finger[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.019 — Cellulitis of unspecified finger[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.02 — Acute lymphangitis of finger[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L03.021 — Acute lymphangitis of right finger[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 32 more

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Common coding questions

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2027 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2026 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v44.0 (October 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to L03.04 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• L03.029 — Acute lymphangitis of unspecified finger
• L03.03 — Cellulitis of toe
• L03.031 — Cellulitis of right toe
• L03.032 — Cellulitis of left toe
• L03.039 — Cellulitis of unspecified toe
• L03.041 — Acute lymphangitis of right toe
• L03.042 — Acute lymphangitis of left toe
• L03.049 — Acute lymphangitis of unspecified toe
• L03.1 — Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of other parts of limb
• L03.11 — Cellulitis of other parts of limb

View all codes in the L03 family