2025 ICD-10-CM code L03.3
Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of trunk
Medical necessity is established by the presence of signs and symptoms consistent with cellulitis and lymphangitis. Treatment is necessary to prevent complications such as abscess formation, sepsis, and necrotizing fasciitis.
Physicians who typically manage this condition include primary care physicians, dermatologists, and infectious disease specialists. Their responsibilities include diagnosis based on physical examination and sometimes culture, prescribing appropriate antibiotics, and monitoring the patient's response to treatment.
In simple words: This condition is a skin infection on the torso, often with swollen lymph vessels.
This code represents a bacterial infection affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues of the trunk, characterized by inflammation and often accompanied by acute lymphangitis (inflammation of the lymphatic vessels).
Example 1: A 45-year-old male presents with redness, swelling, and pain on his back following a minor scratch. The physician diagnoses cellulitis and acute lymphangitis of the trunk., A 60-year-old female with diabetes develops cellulitis and lymphangitis on her abdomen after an insect bite., A 25-year-old athlete presents with a painful, red, and swollen area on his chest, diagnosed as cellulitis with associated lymphangitis.
Documentation should include the location and extent of the cellulitis, the presence and severity of lymphangitis, any associated symptoms (e.g., fever, chills), and any predisposing factors (e.g., trauma, insect bites).
** Excludes2: cellulitis of anal and rectal region (K61.-), cellulitis of external auditory canal (H60.1), cellulitis of eyelid (H00.0), cellulitis of female external genital organs (N76.4), cellulitis of lacrimal apparatus (H04.3), cellulitis of male external genital organs (N48.2, N49.-), cellulitis of mouth (K12.2), cellulitis of nose (J34.0), eosinophilic cellulitis [Wells] (L98.3), febrile neutrophilic dermatosis [Sweet] (L98.2), lymphangitis (chronic) (subacute) (I89.1)
- Payment Status: Active
- Specialties:Primary Care, Dermatology, Infectious Disease
- Place of Service:Office, Inpatient Hospital,Outpatient Hospital, Emergency Room - Hospital