ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code
H60.2Malignant otitis externa
H60.2 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 4 more specific codes beneath it.
Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data
About H60.2
H60.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for malignant otitis externa. It belongs to category H60 (otitis externa), block H60-H62 (diseases of external ear) and chapter 8 (diseases of the ear and mastoid process). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 4 subcodes must be used instead.
Within H60 (otitis externa), H60.2 is specifically for malignant otitis externa. Related codes cover abscess of external ear (H60.0), cellulitis of external ear (H60.1), other infective otitis externa (H60.3), cholesteatoma of external ear (H60.4), acute noninfective otitis externa (H60.5), unspecified chronic otitis externa (H60.6), other otitis externa (H60.8) and unspecified otitis externa (H60.9).
To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: H60.20 (unspecified ear), H60.21 (right ear), H60.22 (left ear) and H60.23 (bilateral).
It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.
Specific codes under H60.2
Notes that apply from higher levels
Instructions written at a parent level also apply to H60.2.
Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 8: Diseases of the ear and mastoid process.
Alphabetic index entries
1 entriesTerms in the official ICD-10-CM index that lead to H60.2.
Code history
- 2016
- 2017
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- 2019
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- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
- 2026
- 2027
- FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
- No changes since FY2016.
Common questions about H60.2
Is H60.2 billable?
- No. H60.2 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.