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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

L04Acute lymphadenitis

Not billable — use a more specific code

L04 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 6 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 L04

L04 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for acute lymphadenitis. It belongs to block L00-L08 (infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue) and chapter 12 (diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 6 subcodes must be used instead.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: L04.0 (of face, head and neck), L04.1 (of trunk), L04.2 (of upper limb), L04.3 (of lower limb), L04.8 (of other sites) and L04.9 (unspecified).

Don't report L04 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: chronic or subacute lymphadenitis, except mesenteric (I88.1), enlarged lymph nodes (R59.-), human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease resulting in generalized lymphadenopathy (B20), lymphadenitis NOS (I88.9) and 1 more.

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 L04

Coding notes

IncludesFurther defines the content of the category
  • abscess (acute) of lymph nodes, except mesenteric
  • acute lymphadenitis, except mesenteric
Excludes1Not coded here — never report together with this code
  • chronic or subacute lymphadenitis, except mesenteric (I88.1)
  • enlarged lymph nodes (R59.-)
  • human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease resulting in generalized lymphadenopathy (B20)
  • lymphadenitis NOS (I88.9)
  • nonspecific mesenteric lymphadenitis (I88.0)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to L04.

Broader instructions also apply from L00-L08 Infections of the skin and subcutaneous tissue and Chapter 12: Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Codes whose notes reference L04

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about L04

Is L04 billable?

No. L04 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.