ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code H70.9 - Unspecified mastoiditis (original) (raw)

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ICD List 2025-2026 Edition

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  6. 2026 ICD-10-CM Code H70.9

Unspecified mastoiditis

ICD-10-CM Code:

H70.9

ICD-10 Code for:

Unspecified mastoiditis

Is Billable?

Not Valid for Submission

Code Navigator:

H70.9 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity from the list below for a diagnosis of unspecified mastoiditis. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2026 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like H70.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Non-specific codes like H70.9 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following billable codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for unspecified mastoiditis:

Use H70.90 for Unspecified mastoiditis, unspecified ear

Use H70.91 for Unspecified mastoiditis, right ear

Use H70.92 for Unspecified mastoiditis, left ear

Use H70.93 for Unspecified mastoiditis, bilateral

  1. Code Information
  2. Specific Coding
  3. Clinical Information
  4. Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
  5. Index to Diseases and Injuries References
  7. Patient Education
  8. Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
  9. Code History

inflammation of the honeycomb-like mastoid bone in the skull just behind the ear. it is usually a complication of otitis media.

inflammation of the mucosal lining of the mastoid antrum and mastoid air cell system of the mastoid process.

The following annotation back-references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index. The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10-CM code(s).

References found for this diagnosis code in the External Cause of Injuries Index:

Ear Infections

Ear infections are the most common reason parents bring their child to a doctor. Three out of four children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday. Adults can also get ear infections, but they are less common.

The infection usually affects the middle ear and is called otitis media. The tubes inside the ears become clogged with fluid and mucus. This can affect hearing, because sound cannot get through all that fluid.

If your child isn't old enough to say "My ear hurts," here are a few things to look for:

Your health care provider will diagnose an ear infection by looking inside the ear with an instrument called an otoscope.

Often, ear infections go away on their own. Your health care provider may recommend pain relievers. Severe infections and infections in young babies may require antibiotics.

Children who get infections often may need surgery to place small tubes inside their ears. The tubes relieve pressure in the ears so that the child can hear again.

NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

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