ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L02.91 - Cutaneous abscess, unspecified (original) (raw)

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  6. 2026 ICD-10-CM Code L02.91

Cutaneous abscess, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Code:

L02.91

ICD-10 Code for:

Cutaneous abscess, unspecified

Is Billable?

Yes - Valid for Submission

Chronic Condition Indicator: [1]

Not chronic

Code Navigator:

L02.91 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of cutaneous abscess, unspecified. The code is valid during the current fiscal year for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions from October 01, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like L02.91 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.

  1. Code Information
  2. Approximate Synonyms
  3. Clinical Classification
  4. Clinical Information
  5. Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
  6. Index to Diseases and Injuries References
  8. Diagnostic Related Groups Mapping
  9. Convert to ICD-9 Code
  10. Patient Education
  11. Other Codes Used Similar Conditions
  12. Code History

The following list of clinical terms are approximate synonyms, alternative descriptions, or common phrases that might be used by patients, healthcare providers, or medical coders to describe the same condition. These synonyms and related diagnosis terms are often used when searching for an ICD-10 code, especially when the exact medical terminology is unclear. Whether you're looking for lay terms, similar diagnosis names, or common language alternatives, this list can help guide you to the correct ICD-10 classification.

Clinical Classifications group individual ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes into broader, clinically meaningful categories. These categories help simplify complex data by organizing related conditions under common clinical themes.

They are especially useful for data analysis, reporting, and clinical decision-making. Even when diagnosis codes differ, similar conditions can be grouped together based on their clinical relevance. Each category is assigned a unique CCSR code that represents a specific clinical concept, often tied to a body system or medical specialty.

CCSR Code: SKN001

Inpatient Default: Y - Yes, default inpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

Outpatient Default: Y - Yes, default outpatient assignment for principal diagnosis or first-listed diagnosis.

an abscess located in the abdominal cavity, i.e., the cavity between the diaphragm above and the pelvis below. (from dorland, 27th ed)

accumulation of purulent material in tissues, organs, or circumscribed spaces, usually associated with signs of infection.

infection with any of various amebae. it is an asymptomatic carrier state in most individuals, but diseases ranging from chronic, mild diarrhea to fulminant dysentery may occur.

a circumscribed collection of purulent exudate in the brain, due to bacterial and other infections. the majority are caused by spread of infected material from a focus of suppuration elsewhere in the body, notably the paranasal sinuses, middle ear (see ear, middle); heart (see also endocarditis, bacterial), and lung. penetrating craniocerebral trauma and neurosurgical procedures may also be associated with this condition. clinical manifestations include headache; seizures; focal neurologic deficits; and alterations of consciousness. (adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, pp712-6)

an intracranial or rarely intraspinal suppurative process invading the space between the inner surface of the dura mater and the outer surface of the arachnoid.

circumscribed collections of suppurative material occurring in the spinal or intracranial epidural space. the majority of epidural abscesses occur in the spinal canal and are associated with osteomyelitis of a vertebral body; analgesia, epidural; and other conditions. clinical manifestations include local and radicular pain, weakness, sensory loss, urinary incontinence, and fecal incontinence. cranial epidural abscesses are usually associated with osteomyelitis of a cranial bone, sinusitis, or otitis media. (from adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p710 and pp1240-1; j neurol neurosurg psychiatry 1998 aug;65(2):209-12)

solitary or multiple collections of pus within the liver as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents.

single or multiple areas of pus due to infection by any ameboid protozoa (amebiasis). a common form is caused by the ingestion of entamoeba histolytica.

single or multiple areas of pus due to bacterial infection within the hepatic parenchyma. it can be caused by a variety of bacteria, local or disseminated from infections elsewhere such as in appendicitis; cholecystitis; peritonitis; and after liver transplantation.

solitary or multiple collections of pus within the lung parenchyma as a result of infection by bacteria, protozoa, or other agents.

acute or chronic inflammation of tissues surrounding the apical portion of a tooth, associated with the collection of pus, resulting from infection following pulp infection through a carious lesion or as a result of an injury causing pulp necrosis. (dorland, 27th ed)

localized circumscribed purulent area of inflammation in the periodontal tissue. it is a derivative of marginal periodontitis and commonly associated with suprabony and infrabony pockets and interradicular involvements, in contrast to periapical abscess which is attributable to pulp necrosis.

an accumulation of purulent material in the area between the palatine tonsil and its capsule.

abscess of the psoas muscles resulting usually from disease of the lumbar vertebrae, with the pus descending into the muscle sheath. the infection is most commonly tuberculous or staphylococcal.

an accumulation of purulent material in the space between the pharynx and the cervical vertebrae. this usually results from suppuration of retropharyngeal lymph nodes in patients with upper respiratory tract infections, perforation of the pharynx, or head and neck injuries.

accumulation of purulent exudates beneath the diaphragm, also known as upper abdominal abscess. it is usually associated with peritonitis or postoperative infections.

a well-circumscribed mass composed of tuberculous granulation tissue that may occur in the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, brain stem, or perimeningeal spaces. multiple lesions are quite common. management of intracranial manifestations vary with lesion site. intracranial tuberculomas may be associated with seizures, focal neurologic deficits, and intracranial hypertension. spinal cord tuberculomas may be associated with localized or radicular pain, weakness, sensory loss, and incontinence. tuberculomas may arise as opportunistic infections, but also occur in immunocompetent individuals.

a round-to-oval mass of lymphoid tissue embedded in the lateral wall of the pharynx. there is one on each side of the oropharynx in the fauces between the anterior and posterior pillars of the soft palate.

a powerful flexor of the thigh at the hip joint (psoas major) and a weak flexor of the trunk and lumbar spinal column (psoas minor). psoas is derived from the greek psoa, the plural meaning muscles of the loin. it is a common site of infection manifesting as abscess (psoas abscess). the psoas muscles and their fibers are also used frequently in experiments in muscle physiology.

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

Below are the ICD-9 codes that most closely match this ICD-10 code, based on the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs). This ICD-10 to ICD-9 crosswalk tool is helpful for coders who need to reference legacy diagnosis codes for audits, historical claims, or approximate code comparisons.

ICD-9-CM: 682.9

Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means this ICD-10 code does not have an exact ICD-9 equivalent. The matched code is the closest available option, but it may not fully capture the original diagnosis or clinical intent.

Abscess

An abscess is a pocket of pus. You can get an abscess almost anywhere in your body. When an area of your body becomes infected, your body's immune system tries to fight the infection. White blood cells go to the infected area, collect within the damaged tissue, and cause inflammation. During this process, pus forms. Pus is a mixture of living and dead white blood cells, germs, and dead tissue.

Bacteria, viruses, parasites and swallowed objects can all lead to abscesses. Skin abscesses are easy to detect. They are red, raised and painful. Abscesses inside your body may not be obvious and can damage organs, including the brain, lungs and others. Treatments include drainage and antibiotics.

[Learn More in MedlinePlus]